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WG FM88th Meeting
Dublin / Ireland, 15 - 19 May 2017
Date issued: / 19May 2017
Source: / WG FM
Subject: / Summary of the Annual Interference Statistics Questionnaire for Reported Cases in 2016
Group membership required to read? (Y/N)
Summary:
WG FM#88 adopted the results of the WGFM Questionnaire on Interference Statistics for cases in 2016 for publication.
39 CEPT Administrations provided an answer by 25 April 2017.
The questionnaire will be repeated next year for the reported interference cases in 2017.
- WGFM will also inform also the ADCO R&TTE (ADCO RED) about the results of the questionnaire.
- Publication on the webpage:
Background:--
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- Introduction
The questionnaire was submitted to the 48 CEPT countries. Contributing countries are highlighted in red in.
Table 1: Responses received regarding interference cases in 2016 (in red)
AlbaniaAndorra
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein / Lithuania
Luxembourg
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
Malta
Monaco
Montenegro
Moldova
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russian Federation
San Marino
Serbia
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The Netherlands
The United Kingdom
Turkey
Ukraine
Vatican City
39 CEPT administrations provided a response. Latvia provided an answer in 2016 but not in 2017. Azerbaijan provided an answer in 2017 but not in 2016.
The responses from the 39 CEPT administrations report 30743 interferences cases.
Comparing responses from the same countries which reported for 2015 and 2016 (Azerbaijan, Latvia are excluded), there is an increase from 23526 to 30730 interference cases (increase of about 30.6%, while the change in 2014->2015 was about 7%).
However, this includes reporting from the Czech Republic about an increase of interference into the Broadcasting (terrestrial UHF video) of about 1500 additional cases compared to 2015 alone, and Germany included (the same as last year) about 1000 interference cases into cable networks such as DSL and cable TV installations in their total number, so if this alone taken away, the overall result would rather show a slight decrease.
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- Reported number of cases
The spreadsheets in Attachments 1 and 2 show the number of reported cases (victims) and the number of sources of interference. The number of cases (victims) is also shown in Figure1.
Figure 1: Number of interference cases by radio services (victims) in 2016
Figure 2: Number of interference cases by radio services (sources) reported in 2016
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In 2016, as in 2014 and 2015, the highest number of interference cases was in the category ‘public mobile networks’.
Table 2: Interference cases (top categories) in 2012 – 2016 timeframe
Reporting Year / 2012 interference case / 2013interference cases / 2014
interference
cases / 2015
interference cases / 2016
Interference cases
Broadcast Reception / 5919 / 4187 (about 30% decrease) / 5148 (includes Turkey and Russia)
(4954 for 37 CEPT countries (w/o Turkey and Russia) – comparison 2013-2014, i.e. about 18% increase) / Decrease when calculating w/o Czech Republic / 8769 (incl. 5811 from the Czech Republic; w/o Czech Republic: 2829 cases);
However in some countries LTE-DVB-T interference cases were resolved between operators and therefore not reported in the overall statistic.
Public Mobile Networks / 4621 / 4192 / 6212 (includes Turkey and Russia)
(4826 for 37 CEPT countries (w/o Turkey and Russia) – comparison 2013-2014, i.e. about 15% increase) / 6612
(38 countries, without Austria) – comparison 2014, i.e. about 7% increase / 10633 (39 countries)
This is an increase of about 58%and includes about 1600 additional cases compared with 2015 from the Russian Federation. But at the same number of cases where public mobile network is interfering is also growing.
Interferences from or into cable communication networks (cable TV, DSL) are treated differently by the administrations. Some include them in the category "other non-radio devices", others exclude them from the questionnaire.
In the category broadcasting as a victim, Finland has listed only 10 cases in the questionnaire, although FICORA reported that this is the most frequent kind of interference with some 10 000 complaints per year. The main reason is overloading of a DVB-T receiver/antenna amplifier by LTE. However, these cases are initially reported to the broadcasting agency which is able to solve most of the cases together with the mobile network operators by installing filters. Only if the problem cannot be solved this way, the case is forwarded to the monitoring service, and only these numbers are included in the questionnaire. Nevertheless, this issue may also add to the increase of cases caused by public mobile networks.
Excel Overview (Victims - 2016)
Excel Overview (Source (Interferer) - 2016)
About 22382 interferences sources (2015: 18965 - 2014: 19654) were reported (increase of 18%, although Germany reported a much lower number of interference sources).
Table 3: Interference cases in 2013 to 2016 timeframe (victims)
Victims / 2013(37 countries w/o Turkey and Russia) / 2014
(37 countries w/o Turkey and Russia) / 2014
(39 countries) / 2015
(40 countries
LIE incl.) / 2016
(39 countries)
Maritime including inland waterways (HF, VHF, UHF, EPIRB, AIS etc.) / 269 / 248 / 254 / 390 / 401
Fixed service / 595 / 575 / 1122 / 1223 / 1132
Land mobile (PMR), professional telecommand and telemetry systems / 2244 / 2091 / 2422 / 2809 / 1924
Public mobile networks (GSM/IMT/PAMR) / 4192 / 4826 / 6212 / 6730 / 10633
Terrestrial Video Broadcasting UHF / 1644 / 2609 / 2639 / 5476 / 7290
Terrestrial Video Broadcasting VHF / 582 / 59 / 168 / 135 / 83
Terrestrial Sound Broadcasting / 1840 / 2286 / 2341 / 1385 / 1396
Satellite broadcasting receivers / 121 / 101 / 114 / 114 / 143
Land and satellite navigation systems as well as radiolocation (civil) / 158 / 158 / 163 / 79 / 169
Aeronautical services (communication, navigation and surveillance) / 1823 / 1738 / 1875 / 1855 / 1744
Radio amateur service (incl. Amateur satellite) / 1266 / 1174 / 1220 / 1233 / 1107
SRD applications including PMSE (ERC Rec. 70-03) / 1333 / 1202 / 1214 / 1454 / 1341
Satellite services (MSS, FSS, not counting SAT Broadcasting to home) / 34 / 48 / 116 / 132 / 112
Others Radio applications / 1731 / 1567 / 1731 / 324 / 1797
Illegal use of radio devices / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
Non radio devices (electric appliances) / 665 / 298 / 577 / 351 / 481
Total / 18497 / 18980 / 22168 / 23690 / 29753
Table 4: Particularities by administrations
Particularities by administrationsBelarus / 83% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Belgium / 43% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Bulgaria / 77% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Croatia / 34% of all reported cases in maritime services category
Czech Republic / 92% of all reported cases terrestrial video broadcasting UHF (5758 cases) – this needs to be checked
Denmark / 59% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
France / 62% of the reported cases concern public mobile networks
Germany / High numbers reported in the category ‘other radio applications’ and ‘interference source vanished/unknown. More than 50% of all PMR and SRD related cases. More than 40% of all radio amateur service related cases
Hungary / 56 % of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Malta / 8 out of the only 11 cases are interference into public mobile networks
Moldova / 55 out of 71 of the reported cases concern public mobile networks
Montenegro / 5 out of only 9 reported cases concern public mobile networks
Portugal / 51% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Romania / 84% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Russian Federation / 67% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Serbia / 58 out of 74 of the reported cases concern public mobile networks
Sweden / 84% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Ukraine / 61% of all reported cases are in public mobile networks
Table 5: Particularities of interference into radio services
Maritime including inland waterways (HF, VHF, UHF, EPIRB, AIS etc.) / HRV and D: 44.4% of all interference casesFixed service / Decrease from 1223 to 1132 cases due to less cases reported from RUS. Note: UKR reported 37% of all interference cases
Land mobile (PMR), professional telecommand and telemetry systems / Decrease from 2809 to 1924 cases, mainly because the Russian Federation reported about 650 cases less. D: 33% of all interference cases
Public mobile networks (GSM/IMT/PAMR) / Biggest category, 35.7% of all interference cases (28% in 2014 and 2015)
Terrestrial Video Broadcasting UHF / CZE: Unusual high number in Czech Republic. 79% (2014: 78% and 2013: 71%)
Terrestrial Video Broadcasting VHF / Only 83 cases (decrease from 134 cases in 2015; 2014: 168 cases)
Terrestrial Sound Broadcasting / Stable, about 1400 cases (following decrease from over 2300 cases to less than 1400 cases from 2014 to 2015, mainly due to fewer numbers reported by the UK).
Satellite broadcasting receivers / Very low number of cases in total (143 cases, 29 cases more) as in 2014 and 2015.
Land and satellite navigation systems as well as radiolocation (civil) / Increase to 169 cases after decrease from 163 to 79 cases from 2104 to 2015 (this may also concern interference cases due to permanent interference into weather radars at 5.6 GHz (see also ECC Report 192). From the169 cases, 100 cases reported from CZE and D alone.
Aeronautical services (communication, navigation and surveillance) / Decrease from 1855 to 1744 cases. 64.5% D and G. 2015: 65 % of all interference cases (2013: 67%)
Radio amateur and amateur satellite service / Decrease from 1233 to 1107 cases. D and G with higher number of interference cases (nearly 52% of all cases)
SRD applications including PMSE (ERC Rec. 70-03) / Some decrease from 1454 to 1342 cases. D: 48% of all interference cases (about the same as in 2014 and 2015)
Satellite services (MSS, FSS, not counting SAT Broadcasting to home) / Decrease to only 112 cases. 2015: 132 cases and 2014:116 cases (57 cases alone reported by the Russian Federation).
Others Radio applications / D: 1259 cases (70% of all cases) while D did not provide numbers in 2015.
In 2014: D: 69 % of all interference cases, mainlyinterference into cable TV and into other telecommunications networks (2013: 70%)
Illegal use of radio devices / Sharp decrease: only 887 cases after 1146 cases in 2015. 2014: 1989 cases were reported as source of interference (2013: 866).
Question 2: Specific interference cases?
Are there specific interference cases for which you would like to provide additional explanations or you would like to highlight special aspects with regard to the reported interference cases? If yes, please inform/explain specific interference problems here. Please include as much as possible information about the source and the interference scenario.Croatia / Yes.
1) Terrestrial Video Broadcasting UHF contains reported interference of LTE800 to DVB-T
2) We would like to highlight ongoing problem with long lasting interferences form Italy along coast line on terrestrial video VHF/UHF and sound broadcasting bands. During 2016 we have reported 143 interference cases to terrestrial video broadcasting on UHF and 537 interference cases to terrestrial sound broadcasting in VHF, which is not included in the table of the Question 1. However, we can report that at the beginning of the November Italian administration started switching off procedure of BC TV transmitters that caused interference to Croatian Terrestrial Video Broadcasting (UHF) along the coast. Result of the switch off procedure is to be confirmed during 2017.
Cyprus / The most common cases of interference at GSM or UMTS, are coming from GSM amplifiers and repeaters as well as from baby monitors and DECT phones made in USA.
For the Aeronautical Services a number of interferences caused mostly from FM Radio Broadcasting has been reported.
In the Terrestrial Sound Broadcasting most of the interferences are coming from the Turkish occupied areas, northern part of Cyprus and from high power transmissions from neighbour countries in the southern part.
In PMR services most of the interferences take place during summer, in the VHF Band, from neighbour countries.
Czech Republic / - LTE providers build in CR their networks in band 800 MHz and the Base transceiver stations (BTSs) placed in populated area cause EMC problems to DVB-T reception
- under item 9, this is the interference of weather radar devices RLANS
Finland / More than 10 000 interference cases from LTE800 BTS's to terrestrial-TV were solved and removed by the LTE800 operators in 2016 as well (total ~35000 from the beginning of 2014). Main reasons were overloading of antenna mast amplifier.
France / In mainland France, the interferences sources identified into public mobile networks are :
- Indoor and outdoor TV antenna amplifiers (33 %)
- Repeaters causing disruptions into these mobile networks (27 %) increase of 7 % compared to 2015
- Other non-radio systems (23 %)
- Other radio systems (9 %)
- DECT phones CE and non CE marked phones (5 %)
- Non identified radio devices (3 %)
The total number of cases of electromagnetic compatibility default represent over 55 % of the identified sources of mobile networks interferences
Doubling of reported cases of meteorological radars interferences occurring in the 5600-5650 MHz frequencies band (45 cases in 2016).
Germany / The total number of cases differs substantially from the number of reported cases (victims) because the total number of interference contains interference into cable networks such as DSL and cable TV installations.
Increasing number of interference to VDSL networks
Greece / Interference on Public Mobile Networks, caused by DECT 6.0 wireless devices, tv aerial signal amplifiers.
Interference on PMR-RADIO AMATEUR SERVICE caused by spurious emissions from 1) high/medium voltage transfer lines, 2) power inverter and 3) LED lighting power supply systems
Hungary / 5GHz RLANs (with DFS) interfering with Weather Radars
Lithuania / Number of victims under “9. Land and satellite navigation systems as well as radiolocation (civil)” include 7 cases of 5 GHz RLAN interference on meteorological radars (all successfully solved).
Netherlands / EMC related disturbances are becoming a more pronounced category of cause for interference. The increase in usability of the spectrum by professional (extreme sensitive) receivers is affected by the increase of man-made noise all through the spectrum. Even compliant equipment can transmit levels of disturbance which increases man made noise. EMC problems are likely to get worse in the future.
The number of complaints by mobile operators are increasing rapidly. Repeaters (illegally used) are the main cause of disturbance in mobile telephone bands. The fact these repeaters can be sold legally (if RED compliant) is in contradiction with the fact that use, without the permission of the mobile operators, is illegal (in the Netherlands). But because of the lack of indoor-coverage the markets for these repeaters is growing.
Norway / Interference of non-radio devices (consumer-electronics) by mobile basestations.
Norway is experiencing an increasing number of interference cases where the interference source is a basestation for mobile telephony.
The victims are very often private households, located relatively close to these basestations.
The problems they experience are interference of stereo equipment, PC loudspeakers etc.
In almost every one of these cases, we measure the electromagnetic fieldstrength from the mobile services to be more than 3 V/m at the location where the interference occur.
The number of cases during 2016 are limited, less than 50. However, compared to 2015 it has been an increase of about 60%.
Portugal / In 2016 this administration noticed a very significant increase of interference complaints affecting weather radars. It was concluded that a vast majority of these interferences, were due to RLAN 5 GHz devices operating co-channel with the radars. Moreover, whilst most of the interference cases were solved by a manual change of the operating channel of the interferer, in one case, the DFS was operating but did not function as intended.
In the Terrestrial Video Broadcasting UHF one interferer was a wind turbine “farm” which introduced an additional time-varying attenuation, causing a visible degradation on the received DVB-T signal (flashing constellation effect), in some spots, where the signal level was only slightly above the minimum threshold (taking into account the planning values established by the GE06 agreement).
In the Aeronautical services The most out of border interferences are emissions OTHR, Over-the-horizon radar; Other type of interferences are faulty equipment into the same mobile or fixed aeronautical stations
Romania / In one case a mobile communications network was affected by a DVB-T2 station
Russian Federation / -operation of noise generators with violation of technical limits for emissions;
-illegal installation of repeaters;
-operation of wireless access devices of DECT standard (ETSI EN 300 175).;
Serbia / In the range of LTE technology there are dominant cable television signals and signals of DVB-T2. It is expected that the number of reported interference in this range will be in the rise.
Slovenia / - a lot of harmful interferences to legal Slovenian GE06 (Geneva 2006 Regional Agreement) stations caused by Italian (not in the GE06plan) stations
- a lot of harmful interferences to legal Slovenian GE84 (Geneva 1984 Regional Agreement) stations caused by Italian (not in the GE84plan) stations
Spain / Continues the increment in interference cases on meteorological radars in 5 GHz band. The main interference sources are RLANs (Radio Local Area Network).
Ukraine /
- The failure of GSM signal amplifier (1 registered case). The interference signal was not fixed near the base station, there was no possibility to connect to the GSM-900 digital cellular network operator’s antenna (transmitter is located at a height of 30 meters near antenna). The search of source of harmful interference took place with limited conditions of use of direction finder. The source was detected with the help of visual identification of its antenna and further confirmed by means of technical control.
- IMT-2000 station, used in close vicinity to receiving antenna of multi-service access station, operating in the band 2300 - 2400 MHz, created interference inductions in receiving antenna making it impossible to receive interference-free signal. Technical radio control of IMT-2000 digital cellular network operator’s station confirmed its compliance with Permission for operation. The interference was eliminated with the help of antennas diversity.
United Kingdom / Weather radars suffering ‘spoking’ interference from outdoor non-compliant RLANs – usually incorrectly set up, or faulty due to not having the latest firmware update (in one case a ‘ww’ had infected the RLAN device and caused it to malfunction due to not having the latest firmware).
Question 3: Illegal Use
What kind of illegal use has caused radio interference (name examples, main problems with illegal use, e.g. jammers, pirate broadcasting, other illegal use)?Belarus / Usage of DECT 6.0- phones
Belgium / Land Mobile vs repeaters : 25
Land Mobile vs Dect : 11
Land Mobile vs DECT 6 : 56
Bosnia Herzegovina / We have only experienced two cases of illegal use of frequencies but that did not cause radio interference; it was just unauthorised use of the frequencies (TV VHF 22 ch. and FM).
Bulgaria / Mostly jammers.
Cyprus / Illegal use of GSM Amplifiers, GSM Repeaters, DECT phones made in USA.
At the Terrestrial Sound Broadcasting, the major problem concerns the illegal transmissions from the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
In addition, complaints for over-deviated cases in the FM Band coming from neighbour transmissions have been reported.
Czech Republic / One jammer of GSM, one jammer (RLAN) of fixed service (6,034 GHz) without a license.
Denmark / Use of mobile repeaters, radio stations exceeding licence parameters, faulty equipment.
Finland / Several illegal mobile network repeaters, typically not CE-marked and bought online.
One FM pirate broadcasting.
Several cases on suspected jammer use.
France / Illegal repeaters used for improving indoor reception, but these defected repeaters are broadband repeaters which are not authorised by the French Mobile Phone Operators.
Over 130 cases in 2016, against a thousand cases in 2015 and fifty in 2014
Illegal used of US DECT phones : ANFR has identified a dozen cases in Parisian region and ninety in the West Indies.
Germany / Mostly DECT repeater, other repeaters and cordless telephones. Also mobile phone blockers and jammers.
Greece / Illegal radio broadcasting cause interference in aeronautical services, satellite services, and terrestrial sound broadcasting
Illegal links cause interference in satellite services (SMOS)
Illegal use of radio devices cause interference in public mobile networks
Hungary / DECT 6.0, jammers (GSM, UMTS, LTE, GPS), illegal repeaters (GSM)
Ireland / Mobile Phone Repeaters; Faulty TV Masthead Amplifier; DECT 6.0 Cordless Phones; Faulty power supply units
Italy / WCDMA cell phone signal repeater GSM amplifier for home
Malta / The interference affecting public mobile networks (IMT) was due to the use of DECT 6 cordless telephones.
Moldova / Illegal use of DECT6.0 devices (53 cases) and one GSM jammer.
Montenegro / DECT 6.0 devices which work in frequency band 1920 – 1930 MHz and cause problems to 3G mobile terrestrial systems. After the auction which was held during the second part of 2016, part of the spectrum (1920-1925 MHz) stayed released i.e. nobody wanted to lease it.
Netherlands / Intruders, jammers, radio-pirates on many different frequencies, illegal (non-compliant) repeaters, illegal telephones (mainly US import),
Norway / Illegal use of GSM-repeaters and DECT 6.0 have been the most common cause.
Romania / In most cases DECT 6.0 terminals, repeaters, jammers, FM pirate
Russian Federation / Illegal usage of devices:
- noise generators;
- repeaters and jammers of mobile networks;
- unauthorised cordless phones of DECT 6.0 standard. These devices interfere with IMT-2000/UMTS base stations;
- wireless data communication devices of 802.11 standard;
- operation of SRD devices, which interfere with LTE Base stations in the band 2540-2550 MHz.
Serbia / Jammers, pico repeaters, baby alarms.
Slovenia / DECT 6, GSM/UMTS repeaters
Spain / Interference from pirate broadcast radio stations to the aeronautical band and from Illegal mobile repeaters and jammers to mobile network systems.
Turkey / PMR, Jammers and Pirate Broadcasting/ These systems affected generally aeronautical services
Ukraine / 1. The use of illegal transmitters of broadband access radio technology.
2. DECT 6.0 equipment
United Kingdom / Pirate radio stations are always an issue to the aeronautical band; for example, a co-located transmitter on 99.1 MHz affected the noise floor on the entire aeronautical band for nearly a week. Caused issues to London City Airport and Heathrow Approach frequencies.Mobile phone repeaters/enhancers and DECT 6.0 phones continue to cause issues with the Mobile Network Operators. Multiple occurrences during the year