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Wireless Systems

Towards a Fully Connected Wireless World

Radio technology is an integral part of our daily lives. We use it
for mobile phones, for broadcast radio and television, in Wireless
Local Area Network and cordless technology, Global Navigation
Satellite Systems (GNSS), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
and short range devices (SRDs). ETSI creates the standards which
define many of these radio technologies and systems.

We also provide the standards which the regulatory authorities
in Europe – and elsewhere – use to manage the radio spectrum
environment and to ensure safe co-existence between all the
systems which compete for use of limited spectrum resources.

Harmonised Standards and the Radio We are co-operating closely with the European Committee
Equipment Directive for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC), in particular
We provide a wide range of Harmonised Standards by which in the area of ‘smart’ or ‘connected’ devices where the
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for the
manufacturers are able to demonstrate that their products base machine need to be reconciled with EMC requirements
comply with a European Commission (EC) Directive, allowing for the radio elements providing the connectivity. This
them to be placed on the market or put into service. In this affects, for example, smart washing machines and other
way, we play an important part in helping to create a large, domestic appliances, radio-controlled light bulbs and
unified European market.
some industrial machinery. In June 2016 we published a
new ‘combined equipment’ guide, which forms the basis
The new Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which replaces for a new multipart Harmonised Standard which we are
the Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment developing.
(R&TTE) Directive, was applied throughout the European
Union (EU) from June 2016. Manufacturers may take
advantage of the single European market by complying
voluntarily; compliance will become mandatory in June
2017. The RED covers all products that deliberately use radio
waves for communication or for determining their position,
regardless of primary function. This means, for example, any
product which includes a satellite positioning system (e.g.
GPS, Galileo), Bluetooth, RFID, Radio Local Area Networks
(RLANs) or Near Field Communication functions.

The RED puts specific requirements on the performance of
radio receivers that they do not use more of the spectrum
than is necessary. For the first time broadcast receivers,
equipment operating at frequencies below 9 kHz and radio
determination equipment (including GNSS equipment) are
included. We provided the EC with an initial work programme
listing the new standards and revisions required. It includes
revising existing standards and developing new ones for
aeronautical, maritime and meteorological radar. (Our work
also takes account of the evolving use of the radio spectrum,
with increasingly dense use of the SRD bands at 863 - 870
MHz, 2,45 GHz and 5,8 GHz, and work to liberate spectrum
for mobile broadband and 5G developments.)

The RED work programme is updated on an ongoing basis
and the EC has introduced additional requirements to
ensure our Harmonised Standards integrate smoothly
with the Standardisation Regulation. This took the total We organised various events to ensure our members
work programme at the end of 2016 to 238 Harmonised – and others – understand the implications of the RED.
Standards. Throughout the year we were heavily engaged These included a follow-up ‘53 shades of RED’ workshop
in this work and, by December, we had delivered 121 of the in December, on how to place compliant radio equipment
new and revised Harmonised Standards required, and work on the European market. We also contributed to the
was well advanced on the others. development of the draft EC Guide to the RED.

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