European groups team up to tackle interference threat

A group of European consumer electronic producers, cable and satellite reception equipment manufacturers, live performance and content producers, and cable operators have teamed up to create a forum aimed at preserving the coexistence between devices and services when new radio services are introduced.

The European Forum for Spectrum Coexistence (EFSC) is issuing a call for EU spectrum policy to ensure that next-generation smartphones and LTE networks can operate alongside fixed broadband networks without causing interference. More broadly, it is calling for all radio and non-radio deployed equipment to be taken into account when the introduction of new radio services threatens to cause interference problems.

“Today we announce the formation of an informal but important group that will aim to work with a wide range of stakeholders to address a gap in the current process of spectrum allocation in Europe. We are counting on decision makers to consider the impact of new radio services on both existing radio and non-radio equipment. The importance of coexistence in this mission cannot be understated,” said Caroline Van Weede, managing director of cable operators’ association Cable Europe. “And it cannot be taken in any way other than positive for consumers and business alike if new and existing services and devices can reliably operate together in harmony.”

Apart from Cable Europe, groups taking part include German consumer electronics association ZVEI and the Association of Professional Wireless Production Technologies.