Interface specifications
Introduction
History
Prior to the liberalisation and deregulation of the telecommunications sector, telecommunications terminals (e.g. telephone sets, fax machines, modems) and radio equipment needed a type approval certificate ("type approval“) before they could be placed on the market (placing on the market), be used or be connected to the former telecommunications network. In those days, type approval was issued by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (FTZ) of the Deutsche Bundespost (DBP), then by the Telecommunications Approval Centre (ZZF) and subsequently by the Federal Approvals Office for Telecommunications (BZT). Type approval was issued after the equipment had passed tests based on national type approval requirements published by the DBP, BAPT or RegTP.
European legal framework.
On the basis of the new concept ("New Approach" or "New Approach Standardization in the Internal Market" ) established by the European Commission (EU-COM) on telecommunications , type approval has been replaced throughout Europe by a uniform conformity assessment procedure (Art. 10 of the RTTE Directive and § 7 of the FTEG.
The goal is:
- to accelerate technical harmonisation in Europe,
- to enable a competition-oriented, pan-European movement of goods and
- hence to strengthen the European internal market.
Type approval procedure – conformity assessment procedure
The major difference between these two procedures is that from the viewpoint of telecommunications legislation no equipment tests are carried out by a (national) type approval office and no type approval certificates are issued. In simple terms, in the conformity assessment procedure the manufacturer himself declares that his product (telecommunications terminal, radio device) meets the basic requirements (Art. 3 of the RTTE Directive and § 3 of the FTEG) in relation to the protection requirements and to efficient and interference-free frequency use (including orbit resources). He can choose the standard or international specification he wishes to apply. If the manufacturer refers to the relevant harmonised standards (Art. 6 of the RTTE Directive and § 6 of the FTEG) published in the EU’s Official Journal , it is assumed that the device fulfils the basic requirements.
Particularities and exceptions in the aeronautical service and maritime mobile service and the radiotelephone service on inland waterways
Some radio equipment for the aeronautical service, the maritime mobile service and the radiotelephone service on inland waterways still requires device-specific type approval issued on the basis of the relevant provisions of traffic law by national or international organisations (e.g. Federal Office of Civil Aeronautics (LBA) , European Air Safety Agency (EASA), Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Traffic Technologies Centre –German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (FVT)).
The SSBs in the aeronautical service contain mandatory requirements agreed in collaboration with the national German Air Navigation Service and corresponding content-wise with the approval provisions in traffic law.
The conformity assessment procedure under Article 10 of the RTTE Directive does not solely apply to radio equipment for the maritime mobile service falling under the Council Directive on marine equipment (Directive 96/98/EC of 20 December 1996, EC Official Journal 1997 No. L46 p. 25) in its up-to-date version. For these radio installations the conformity assessment procedure under Article 10 of the Directive on marine equipment applies.
Interface specifications (SSB)
SSB are only compiled for radio equipment operated in frequency bands the use of which is not harmonised within the Community. In accordance with § 4 of the FTEG they contain all the information necessary to enable manufacturers to carry out the relevant tests they desire in relation to the requirements of relevance to the radio equipment.
Basically, the SSB drafts are compiled by Bundesnetzagentur and agreed upon in conjunction with interested parties and parties needing such SSBs, within working groups, hence establishing publicity. The SSB drafts are subsequently submitted to the EU COM for notification within the framework of the pan-European information procedure for standards and technical specifications (Directive 98/34/EC, amended by Directive 98/48/EC). The SSBs enter into force upon publication as an Administrative Order in the Federal Network Agency Official Gazette.
All radio-relevant SSBs contain the important notice that as far as the putting into service and the operation of the radio equipment are concerned, especially the provisions regarding frequency regulation (Part 5 of the Telecommunications Act, TKG) remain unaffected.
Legal bases
For the compilation of the SSBs, § 4(1) of the FTEG forms the legal basis. The FTEG serves to transpose Directive 1999/5/EC into national law.
The following legal norms are of relevance:
Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (incl. amendment by Regulation VO 1882/2003 of 29.09.2003)
Regulation VO 1882/2003 (pdf/218 KB)
Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (incl. amendmend by Directive 98/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 July 1998)
Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Act (FTEG) of 31 January 2001 (Federal Law Gazette Part I No. 6 p. 170 of 7 February 2001)
Telecommunications Act (TKG) of 22.06.2004 (Federal Law Gazette Part I No. 29 p. 1190 of 25.06.2004)
last amended by the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court - 1 BvR 1299/05 - (on section 113(1) sentence 1 and 2 of the TKG) of 5 March 2012 (Federal Law Gazette Part I 2012 No 13, p 460)
Available SSBs
Status: 28 March 2012
These interface specifications have been notified by the European Commission under Directive 98/34/EC, amended by Directive 98/48/EC, and put into effect through publication in the Official Gazette.
- Land radio service (LA)
- Maritime mobile service (SE)
- Aeronautical service (FL)
- Radio determination service (OR)
- Broadcasting service (RU)
- Fixed services (FE)
- Fixed satellite services (FES)
Prospects
(National) SSBs may be dispensed with if the radio equipment is operated in frequency ranges that have been harmonised on a Community-wide basis and if harmonised standards have been published. Of vital importance are hence the harmonised European standards compiled in the European standardisation bodies (e.g. ETSI, CENELEC, CEN) in accordance with an EU COM mandate and published in the EU’s Official Journal.
The following SSBs are in the notification procedure (Status: 8 May 2012).
Purchase, information
German SSBs can be downloaded from the Internet or be ordered by fax:
and purchased in printed form against payment of a fee:
Order address
Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen
Außenstelle Erfurt
Druckschriftenversand
Zeppelinstraße 16
99096 Erfurt
Tel.: +49 361/7398-272
Fax: +49 361/7398-184
email: druckschriften.versand@bnetza.de
Furthermore, these SSBs and the SSBs of other EU Member States can be retrieved from the "Technical Regulations Information Systems" web site (TRIS).
General or specific questions regarding the content of the SSBs may be addressed to the e-mail address SSB@BNetzA.de