WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE AND THE DECISIONS?
- The implementing decisions mostly concern harmonisation, while others deal with specific frequency bands for specific purposes, in addition to limits on signal strength and harmful interference where applicable. EU Member States are responsible for radio spectrum management, and the amendments reflect how European and international harmonisation and technical agreements have evolved.
- The ‘DECT’ directive designates the 1 880-1 900 MHz frequency band for digital cordless communications by 1 January 1992 and obliges Member States to bring into force the necessary national laws, regulations and administrative rules.
KEY POINTS
The decisions
The implementing decisions cover radio equipment devices that are operated through general authorisation or on an unlicensed or shared basis by end-users. This includes radio local access network devices (wi-fi) devices which have shown massive growth in demand for radio spectrum, as acknowledged in the 2018 European Electronic Communications Code.
Many of these acts are harmonisation decisions. Others deal with frequency bands for different purposes, such as a huge variety of short range devices, Internet of Things (IoT) equipment, ultra-wide band equipment, alarms, door openers, medical implants, intelligent transport systems, radio frequency identification devices (RFID), radio determination, ground probing, and new types of machine-to-machine devices, as well as equipment for programme making and special events (PMSE) such as wireless video links or microphones and digital cordless telephones.
A further general authorisation band relates to vehicle safety, in particular to the operation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
The various implementing decisions cover the following radio spectrum, in addition to limits on signal strength and harmful interference where applicable:
- the 5 GHz frequency band (5 150-5 350 MHz and 5 470-5 725 MHz) for wireless access systems, including radio local area networks (WAS/RLANs – wi-fi broadband);
- the 3 400-3 800 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems for ‘fixed, nomadic and mobile electronic communications networks’;
- the 5 875-5 935 MHz frequency band for safety-related applications of Intelligent Transport Systems;
- the 24 GHz range radio spectrum band for the time-limited use by automotive short-range radar equipment;
- radio spectrum use by wireless audio programme-making and special events equipment;
- the 2 010-2 025 MHz frequency band for portable or mobile wireless video links and cordless cameras used for programme making and special events;
- the 900 MHz and 1 800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in relation to the Internet of Things;
- radio spectrum for use by short-range devices within the 874-876 and 915-921 MHz frequency bands;
- radio spectrum for equipment using ultra-wideband technology, such as vehicle and aircraft location tracking; and
- the full harmonised radio spectrum for use by short-range devices, now extending from 9 kHz to 246 GHz, covering a broad variety of short-range applications across sectors including RFID, medical implants, automotive radar, security scanners, and wireless control systems.
Directive 91/287/EEC
The directive obliges Member States to designate the 1 880-1 900 MHz frequency band for digital cordless communications by 1 January 1992.
FROM WHEN DO THE DIRECTIVE AND DECISIONS APPLY?
| Legislation |
Application date |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/105 |
23 January 2025 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/179 |
10 February 2022 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/173 |
9 February 2022 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426 |
9 October 2020 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/785 |
16 May 2019 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1538 |
12 October 2018 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2077 |
13 November 2017 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1483 |
10 August 2017 |
| Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/339 |
9 March 2016 |
| Implementing Decision 2013/752/EU |
12 December 2013 |
| Implementing Decision 2011/829/EU |
9 December 2011 |
| Implementing Decision 2011/485/EU |
1 August 2011 |
| Decision 2010/368/EU |
1 July 2010 |
| Decision 2009/381/EC |
14 May 2009 |
| Decision 2008/411/EC |
21 May 2008 |
| Directive 91/287/EEC |
5 June 1991 |
BACKGROUND
For more information, see:
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/105 of 22 January 2025 amending Decision 2006/771/EC updating harmonised technical conditions in the area of radio spectrum use for short-range devices and repealing Implementing Decision 2014/641/EU on harmonised technical conditions of radio spectrum use by wireless audio programme making and special events equipment in the Union (notified under document C(2025) 192) (OJ L, 2025/105, 23.1.2025).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/179 of 8 February 2022 on the harmonised use of radio spectrum in the 5 GHz frequency band for the implementation of wireless access systems including radio local area networks and repealing Decision 2005/513/EC (notified under document C(2022) 628) (OJ L 29, 10.2.2022, pp. 10–16).
Successive amendments to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/179 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/173 of 7 February 2022 on the harmonisation of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Union and repealing Decision 2009/766/EC (notified under document C(2022) 605) (OJ L 28, 9.2.2022, pp. 29–39).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426 of 7 October 2020 on the harmonised use of radio spectrum in the 5 875-5 935 MHz frequency band for safety-related applications of intelligent transport systems (ITS) and repealing Decision 2008/671/EC (OJ L 328, 9.10.2020, pp. 19–23).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/785 of 14 May 2019 on the harmonisation of radio spectrum for equipment using ultra-wideband technology in the Union and repealing Decision 2007/131/EC (OJ L 127, 16.5.2019, pp. 23–33).
See consolidated version.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1538 of 11 October 2018 on the harmonisation of radio spectrum for use by short-range devices within the 874-876 and 915-921 MHz frequency bands (OJ L 257, 15.10.2018, pp. 57–63).
See consolidated version.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2077 of 10 November 2017 amending Decision 2005/50/EC on the harmonisation of the 24 GHz range radio spectrum band for the time-limited use by automotive short-range radar equipment in the Community (OJ L 295, 14.11.2017, pp. 75–76).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1483 of 8 August 2017 amending Decision 2006/771/EC on harmonisation of the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices and repealing Decision 2006/804/EC (OJ L 214, 18.8.2017, pp. 3–27).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/339 of 8 March 2016 on the harmonisation of the 2 010-2 025 MHz frequency band for portable or mobile wireless video links and cordless cameras used for programme making and special events (OJ L 63, 10.3.2016, pp. 5–8).
Commission Implementing Decision 2013/752/EU of 11 December 2013 amending Decision 2006/771/EC on harmonisation of the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices and repealing Decision 2005/928/EC (OJ L 334, 13.12.2013, pp. 17–36).
Commission Implementing Decision 2011/829/EU of 8 December 2011 amending Decision 2006/771/EC on harmonisation of the radio spectrum for use by short-range (OJ L 329, 13.12.2011, pp. 10–18).
Commission Implementing Decision 2011/485/EU of 29 July 2011 amending Decision 2005/50/EC on the harmonisation of the 24 GHz range radio spectrum band for the time-limited use by automotive short-range radar equipment in the Community (OJ L 198, 30.7.2011, pp. 71–72).
Commission Decision 2010/368/EU of 30 June 2010 amending Decision 2006/771/EC on harmonisation of the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices (OJ L 166, 1.7.2010, pp. 33–41).
Commission Decision 2009/381/EC of 13 May 2009 amending Decision 2006/771/EC on harmonisation of the radio spectrum for use by short-range devices (OJ L 119, 14.5.2009, pp. 32–39).
Commission Decision 2008/411/EC of 21 May 2008 on the harmonisation of the 3 400-3 800 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Community (OJ L 144, 4.6.2008, pp. 77–81).
See consolidated version.
Council Directive 91/287/EEC of 3 June 1991 on the frequency band to be designated for the coordinated introduction of digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT) into the Community (OJ L 144, 8.6.1991, pp. 45–46).
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (Recast) (OJ L 321, 17.12.2018, pp. 36–214).
See consolidated version.
Decision No 676/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a regulatory framework for radio spectrum policy in the European Community (Radio Spectrum Decision) (OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, pp. 1–6).
