1.

ECC Recommendation
(YY)XX

Frame structures to facilitate cross-border coordination of

outdoor TDD MFCN in the frequency band
3400-3800 MHz

DD Month YYYY

Edition
ECC/REC/(YY)XX Page 2

INTRODUCTION

The ECC Recommendation (15)01[3], as amended on 14 February 2020, addresses, among other bands,
the cross-border coordination of outdoor TDD MFCN in the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz. The use of
synchronisationed of outdoor TDD networks in border areas in this frequency band is recommended and
elements are provided regarding cross-border coordination in the case of networks with synchronized clock
networks using the same or different frame structures.

Different techniques can be used to reduce the interference across the border in case of both TDD and FDD
systems such as antenna tilting, restricted beamforming, downlink power reduction, minimum inter-cell
interference scheduling. In the context of TDD systems, while these techniques decrease the interference,
they may not be sufficient to enable unsynchronised operation of TDD networks across the border.

When different frame structures and a common clock synchronization are used, DL symbol blanking feature
allows to avoid interference from DL symbol into UL symbol of a base station in a neighbouring country with
some degree of downlink capacity loss and some loss in coverage (specific features could be considered to
mitigate this).
DL symbol blanking is not available yet in existing equipment and further studies are being carried out within
CEPT. In this regard, the availability of such feature will be fostered by a limited choice of frame structure s.
and thisThe list of frame structures may need to be updated when more information about existing systems,
new services and performance requirements are known. the frame structures which may be necessary to
support those services is known. While DL symbol blanking could be complemented by one or more of the
other interference avoidance mechanisms which would reduce the area where DL symbol blanking needs to
be applied.
Further studies are being carried out in CEPT to describe, study and analyse solutions to ensure efficient
usage of spectrum at the border between MFCN TDD networks in the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz.

Many CEPT countries have authorized or will authorize soon the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz for MFCN
and have engaged in cross-border negotiations with their neighbours in order to enable spectrum efficient
deployment at the border.

Therefore, CEPT has identified an urgent need for an ECC recommendation regarding 5G-NR frame
structures to be used in cross-border coordination in order to facilitate the development of DL symbol
blanking feature in due time, as well as the negotiation of cross-border coordination agreementsnegotiation
between administrations.

Edition
 ECC/REC/(YY)XX Page 3

ECC RECOMMENDATION OF YY(XX) ON FRAME STRUCTURES TO FACILITATE CROSS-BORDER

COORDINATION OF TDD MFCN IN THE FREQUENCY BAND 3400-3800 MHZ

“The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, (style: ECC paragraph)

considering

a) that ECC Decision (11)06 [1] provides the harmonised conditions for Mobile/Fixed Communications
Networks (MFCN) operating in the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz;

b) that ECC report 296 [2] on national synchronisation framework options in 3400-3800 MHz evaluates that
minimum distances required between unsynchronised macro-cellular networks could be up to 60 km
when operating co-channel and up to 14 km when operating in the adjacent channel without guard
bands.

c) that ECC Recommendation (15)01 [3] on cross-border coordination for MFCN in several frequency
bands defines a coordination threshold of 0 dBµVv/m/5 MHz at the borderline for unsynchronized TDD
networks in the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz, which may result in very largeminimum required
distances up to 100 km from the border where neighboring administrations will need to coordinate base
stations deployment;

d) that ECC Recommendation (15)01[3] recommends the synchronisation of MFCN TDD networks at the
border and provides further guidance on its implementation including examples of frame structure
options;
e) that DL symbol blanking would enable, for two networks having a common clock, to switch off
transmissions (“blanking”) ofin some specific DL symbols which may interfere UL symbols of a
neighboring country’s network, thus allowing the deployment of different frame structures across borders
with some degree of downlink capacity loss;
f) that studies are being carried out within CEPT regarding the DL symbol blanking, whose availability will
be fostered by a limited choice of frame structures;
g) that different techniques are available for operators to reduce the interference in cross-border situations
such as antenna tilting, restricted beamforming, downlink power reduction, minimum inter-cell
interference scheduling;.
h) that DL symbol blanking is a solution that would enable, for two networks having a common clock
synchronization, to switch off transmissions (“blanking”) ofin some specific DL symbols which may
interfere UL symbols of a neighboring country’s networks, thus allowing the deployment of different
frame structures across borders with some degree of downlink capacity loss and some loss in coverage
(specific features could be considered to mitigate this);
i)
j)
k) that studies are being carried out within CEPT regarding solutions to ensure efficient usage of spectrum
at the border between MFCN TDD networks in the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz. including the DL
symbol blanking, whose availability will be fostered by a limited choice of frame structure;
l)
m) that there are some legacy networks in some CEPT countries which may constrain the choice of a frame
structure at a national level;
n) that 5G-NR NR allows significantly more flexibility than previous generations of air interface technologies
in the frame structure with the ability to configure OFDM symbols in a slot within a frame as 'downlink',
'flexible', or 'uplink’uplink / downlink / mixed transmission at the symbol level than previous generations
of air interface technologies;
o) that in order to develop cross border coordination agreement, there is a need to identify a proper
coordination area in case different frame structures are chosen across the border

Edition
ECC/REC/(YY)XX Page 4

p) that ECC rReport 216 states that "synchronised operation implies configuring compatible frame
structures, i.e. setting the length of the frame, the TDD uplink/downlink ratio and guard period in order to
align UL/DL switching points, so that the last transmitter stops before the first receiver starts, taking into
account the propagation delay (e.g. in LOS non co-sited cases). Frame structures do not need to be
exactly identical provided this condition is met", which enables different sizes for the guard period.
q) That the 5G-NR Frame B given in annex 1 is compatible with the LTE-TDD frame structure configuration
n°2, DSUDD DSUDD (10 ms periodicitytime duration, SubCarrier Spacing, SCS 15kHz), where different
sspecial subframe, “S” configurations are possible such asas SS “S” configuration n°6, (9:3:2) or SS
n°7, (10:2:2), where ((x:y:z) represents the number of symbolsDownlink: Downlink:Guard Period:Uplink
OFDM symbols.)
r) that cross-border agreement ensures an efficient spectrum usage especially for outdoor network
deployments in case of MFCN TDD networks in the 3400-3800 MHz frequency band
s)

recommends

1. that CEPT administrations should use the frame structures defined in Annex 1 for outdoor MFCN TDD
networks in the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz with clock synchronization in order to facilitate cross-
border coordination;

2.

3. under specific assumptions, adjacent channel unsynchronised operation should be possible with careful
installation of the indoor BSs. Such planning seems to be feasible in case of industrial – type of use case
(e.g., smart factory indoor coverage). In the case of co-channel operation of Macro BSs and indoor BSs,
the lack of out of block filtering on the Macro BS and on the indoor BS transmitters' sides will need to be
considered (see ECC Repot 296);

4. .;

5. that CEPT administrations should retain the flexibility to adapt to national circumstances, e.g. for taking
into account legacy networks (although a national migration roadmap of all legacy systems should be
defined) and new services which may be best supported by MFCN networks using frame structures
which are different from those used today;. specific MFCN (e.g. NR) networks requirement or the
intention to deploy pure NR technology;

6. that bilateral/multilateral agreements should address the behaviour during the transition period which
may be necessary until DL symbol blanking is available;

Note:

Please check the Office documentation database http://www.ecodocdb.dk for the up to date position on the
implementation of this and other ECC Recommendations.

Edition
 ECC/REC/(YY)XX Page 5

ANNEX 1: FRAME STRUCTURES IN THE FREQUENCY BAND 3400-3800 MHZ IN ORDER TO

FACILITATE CROSS-BORDER COORDINATION OF OUTDOOR TDD MFCN IN THE FREQUENCY
BAND 3400-3800 MHZ

Table 1 defines the two four NR frame structures (Frame A and Frame BFrame structures A to D) for outdoor
MFCN TDD networks in order to facilitate cross-border coordination in the frequency band 3400-3800 MHz.

NR Frame A NR Frame B

DL/UL pattern DDDSUDDDSU DDDSUDDDSU DDDSUUDDDD DDDSUUDDDD

(see note 1) (see note 1,4)

Frame time 10 ms2.5 ms 10 ms5 ms

DdurationPeriodicity

Subcarrier spacing 30 kHz 30 kHz

Slot Duration 0.5 ms 0.5 ms

Downlink-to-Uplink 2.5 ms 105 ms

switch-point periodicity

Special special subframe Downlink GapGuard Uplink Downlink Gap Guard Uplink
slot slot “S” configuration (note 5)

6 4 4
10 2 2
4 6 4

Subcarrier spacing 30 kHz 30 kHz

Time base (see note 3) UTC (see note 2) + Offset +/- 1.5 µs UTC (see note 2) + Offset +/- 1.5 µs

Offset 0 ms 0 ms

Frame Frame Slot DL/UL Pattern Special subframe Time base Offset
Structure Period period (see notes 1, 4) slot configuration (see note 3)
DL Gap UL
A 5 ms 0.5 ms DDDSUDDDSU 10 2 2 UTC (see note 2) 0 ms
+ Offset +/- 1.5μs
B 5 ms 0.5 ms DDDSUUDDDD 6 4 4 UTC (see note 2) 0 ms
+ Offset +/- 1.5μs
C 5 ms 0.5 ms DDDSUUDDDD 4 6 4 N/A N/A

D 10 ms 0.5 ms DDDSUUXXXX 4 6 4 N/A N/A

XXXXXXXXXX

Table 1: set of NR TDD MFCN frames structures

Edition
ECC/REC/(YY)XX Page 6

Note 1: D = downlink ; S = Special special subframe Slot ; U = Uplink; X = downlink or uplink

Note 2: UTC = Coordinated Universal Time in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R TF.460. The typical
measuring signal is 1 pps (pulse-per-second) signal from the clock device with the rising-edge materializing
the exact second epoch.

Note 3: The start of frame (defined as the beginning of the first slot in the UL/DL pattern of the Table 1) has
to be phase-synchronised with the time base.

Note 4: NR frame A (DDDSUUDDDD repeated twice) is equivalent to NR frame DDDDDDDSUU repeated

twice over-the-air when a +2 ms or -3 ms time offset is applied. This means that, instead of NR frame A,
operators may choose to implement the NR frame DDDDDDDSUU repeated twiceDDDDDDDSUU; with
proper time offset in this case, operators will need to apply the above mentioned time offset in order to be
compatible with the LTE frame (DSUDD DSUDD SCS 15 kHz). These NR frames have been developed by
standardisation.

the frame B Frames B and C can be implemented in two different ways:

 either as “DDDSUUDDDD”, aligned with the UTC Time Base

 or as “DDDDDDDSUU” with a 3 ms delay with the UTC Time Base

Note 5 : As mentioned in considering (jl), different guard period sizes can still be implemented while retaining
synchronised operation. It should be noted that the size of the guard period defines a corresponding area
where synchronised operation is effective. Increasing this guard period also increases the size of the
synchronised area at the expense of some capacity loss, and may contribute to solve some specific
interference issues between far-away sites in line-of-sight with exceptional propagation conditions.

ANNEX 2: LIST OF REFERENCES

This annex contains the list of relevant reference documents.

ECC/REC(15)01 Cross-border coordination for Mobile/Fixed Communications Networks (MFCN) in

the frequency bands: 694-790 MHz, 1427-1518 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz
[1] ECC/DEC(11)06 Harmonised technical and regulatory conditions for the use of the bands 3400-3600
MHz and 3600-3800 MHz for MFCN
[2] ECC Report 296 National synchronisation regulatory framework options in 3400-3800 MHz: a toolbox
for coexistence of MFCNs in synchronised, unsynchronised and semi-synchronised
operation in 3400-3800 MHz
[3] ECC/REC(15)01 Cross-border coordination for Mobile/Fixed Communications Networks (MFCN) in
the frequency bands: 694-790 MHz, 1427-1518 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz

Edition