Mobile Phone Repeaters to be Legalised

The Cush

The recently published Report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce indicates the use of mobile phone repeaters are to legalised in 2017. Comreg will commence work on the scheme in Q2, 2017.

ComReg will develop a licensing scheme allowing for the use of mobile phone repeaters. This will allow householders and businesses to boost the signals into their premises, through the use of repeaters on the building.

The Taskforce recognised early on that there is a requirement to consider the use of mobile phone repeaters, mainly in rural areas, to enhance signal quality. The Taskforce explored this issue in some detail and it became apparent that there were very few solutions open to consumers to overcome the problem of poor indoor signal quality. The conclusion reached was that there is a clear need for a transparent regime that would allow for the orderly installation of suitable mobile phone repeaters which would go some way towards addressing the problem of indoor coverage issues. The repeaters should be to a recognised standard which does not interfere with other wireless infrastructure locally.

ComReg should develop a licensing scheme allowing the use of accredited mobile phone repeaters to help address the issue of indoor coverage, particularly in rural areas.

The issue was raised last Jan at an Oireachtas Committee discussion with Comreg

p.13 Mr.Jeremy Godfrey: We do not have evidence that there is a difference in signal strength. We have evidence that there is a difference in the performance of phones. We also have evidence that the technology people are using in their homes may also be making it harder for the signal to penetrate. Some operators offer boosters and other devices for within-home coverage. Under the spectrum strategy we published recently, we will also consider whether we can do things to extend the use of those boosters.

p.14 Mr.Jeremy Godfrey: ... We will consider the licensing of amplifiers to enable individuals, through their mobile operators, to improve the coverage within their homes.

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/WebAttachments.nsf/($vLookupByConstructedKey)/committees~20160127~TRJ/$File/Daily%20Book%20Revised.pdf?openelement

Thie issue was raised again in Comreg's Radio Spectrum Management Strategy 2016 - 2018

p.30 4.30 Given the variety of potential factors, ComReg notes there may be various ways of addressing this matter including:

the use of mobile repeaters to address indoor reception issues, noting that such repeaters would have to be CE-certified and be authorised (via a licence or a licence-emption) to use the radio frequencies; and

the ability to use fixed broadband connections (e.g. native Wi-Fi calling) for the provision of mobile services (both voice and data) to address indoor reception issues

http://www.comreg.ie/publication/radio-spectrum-management-strategy-2016-2018-brochure/

Jimmy Garlic

My good friend Seamus has been using one for years..

The Cush

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

My good friend Seamus has been using one for years..

Lots of them in use, many of dodgy quality from China (speaking from personal experience).

This Irish manufacturer of repeaters will welcome the move, being able to sell them legally here as they can in other European countries - http://www.stelladoradus.com/company-info/about-us/

funnyname

Will femtocells also be covered by this?

The Cush wrote: »

Lots of them in use, many of dodgy quality from China (speaking from personal experience).

This Irish manufacturer of repeaters will welcome the move, being able to sell them legally here as they can in other European countries - http://www.stelladoradus.com/company-info/about-us/

The Cush

funnyname wrote: »

Will femtocells also be covered by this?

Don't know, I guess we'll see a Comreg consultation on this in the coming months.

The Cush

Comreg's Work Plan to end Jun 2018

- Develop Authorisation Regime for Mobile Repeaters

Consult on and develop an authorisation regime for the use of mobile repeaters by commercial and private users (Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Report, action no. 37).

Consultation & Draft Decision (Q3 2017)
Response to Consultation & Decision (Q2 2018)

The matter of indoor coverage is one regularly raised but represents an area in which there is a relative dearth of research and solutions. To better inform the debate in this area ComReg has taken the decision to conduct extensive research into commonly used building materials for domestic dwellings. It is strongly suspected that the levels of insulation currently used in houses is a significant impediment to indoor coverage; as heat and radio signals are part of the same electromagnetic spectrum, keeping heat in by default keeps radio signals out. ComReg has identified two potential solutions; native Wi-Fi calling and the use of high standard repeaters. Native Wi-Fi calling is for the Mobile Network Operators to implement. To facilitate the use of repeaters by the general public, ComReg is conducting background research on the feasibility of the introduction of mobile phone repeaters that are beyond network control. In parallel, work is also ongoing on the preparation of project and consultation documents.

ComReg will complete the feasibility research and publish a consultation document in Q3 2017 with Final Decision expected in Q2 2018.

The Cush

Ofcom to legalise the use of static indoor and low gain mobile phone repeaters

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/mobile-phone-repeaters?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=repeaters

In a statement published Tuesday, Ofcom set out its decision to make regulations that will allow consumers to operate two categories of mobile phone repeaters on a licence-exempt basis i.e. with no need for a licence:

1. static mobile phone repeaters for indoor use; and
2. low gain mobile phone repeaters for in-vehicle use

The statement sets out the technical requirements that need to be met for mobile phone repeaters to be lawfully used by consumers on a licence exempt basis whilst ensuring they are not likely to be a source of undue interference or have an adverse effect on technical quality of service. This relates specifically to static mobile phone repeaters for indoor use; and low gain mobile phone repeaters for in-vehicle use."

The licence exemption regulations will come into force in early 2018, the draft interface requirement is currently going through the European Union notification process. Until that time, the use of mobile phone repeaters remains unlawful and those that do not meet the technical requirements after that point will also continue to be illegal to use.

ED E

Thanks for keeping this updated C. We'll have a big market for any installers who get tooled up to install compliant (assuming we carbon copy as always) units in thousands of dwellings. Especially now Sure Signal is gone.

The Cush

ED E wrote: »

(assuming we carbon copy as always)

In this case I hope we do and not do something more restrictive. Comreg were due to publish a consultation paper last quarter, possibility awaiting this Ofcom update before doing so.

funnyname

anymore news?

The Cush

funnyname wrote: »

anymore news?

As per post #6, awaiting Comreg's consultation and draft decision, delayed it appears.

According to the information above they are conducting background research on the feasibility of the introduction of mobile phone repeaters, also no doubt digesting Ofcom's recent decision to legalise them and hopefully align their draft decision with Ofcom's position.

The Cush

Ofcom are currently consulting on the regulations that will legalise mobile repeaters.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-3/regulations-short-range-devices-mobile-repeaters

The Cush

Comreg has published it consultation on the legal use of Mobile Phone Repeaters

Option 3 – Permit the licence exempt use of repeaters for consumers on all Mobile Operators’ networks (‘Multi-operator Repeaters’)

ComReg's Preferred Option

90. The above assessment has considered the impact of the various options from the perspective of industry stakeholders, as well as the impact on competition and consumers. For the reasons identified above, ComReg considers that, on balance, Option 3 would be the more appropriate regulatory option to adopt in the context of the RIA analytical framework.

91. In particular, ComReg is of the preliminary view that Option 3 would be justified, reasonable and proportionate, because, amongst other things Option 3:

• provides households/premises with a mobile connectivity solution that benefits the greatest number of consumers by authorising repeaters across all networks, and is more efficient for consumers as there is no need to buy more than one device per household;
  
• protects Mobile Operators existing and future efficient investments by mitigating the risks of interference associated with the use of unauthorised repeaters/boosters and also positively impacts on user perceptions of the MNO networks by eliminating issues that had been previously and erroneously associated with them;
  
• would accord with ComReg’s statutory objective of encouraging the efficient use and ensuring the effective management of spectrum by allowing the radio spectrum to be used in a manner that provides connectivity solutions to consumers while protecting against undue interference;
  
• would protect all operators from network interference and provides equal benefits in terms of improved connectivity for consumers;
  
• would accord with the principle of safeguarding competition to the benefit of consumers and promoting, where appropriate, infrastructure based competition; and
  
• would appear to be least onerous means by which the policy issues and objectives as stated could be achieved.

The consultation runs until Friday 19th January 2018

https://www.comreg.ie/publication/mobile-phone-repeaters-consultation/

my3cents

Do these products actually exist at present or will someone have to make them and then get them certified for use in the Irish market?

ganmo

my3cents wrote: »

Do these products actually exist at present or will someone have to make them and then get them certified for use in the Irish market?

They exist and many currently in use in homes around the country

my3cents

ganmo wrote: »

They exist and many currently in use in homes around the country

But how do you know those devices "would protect all operators from network interference" as per the consultation document?

The Cush

my3cents wrote: »

Do these products actually exist at present or will someone have to make them and then get them certified for use in the Irish market?

As I mentioned earlier in the tread there is an Irish manufacturer of these products which should meet the technical requirements, they are currently unable to sell them here. European regulations in place to allow for the use of such devices.

http://www.stelladoradus.com/

funnyname

Eir currently offer VoWiFi so when 3 and Vodafone also start offering this won't this eliminate the need for repeaters for an awful lot of people.

benjii

Go to the Comreg website to see the new list of legal boosters. All the Chinese stuff is illegal, but there are a few manufacturers that are legal..

Johnboy1951

benjii wrote: »

Go to the Comreg website to see the new list of legal boosters. All the Chinese stuff is illegal, but there are a few manufacturers that are legal..

That site is difficult to navigate when not familiar with it

https://www.comreg.ie/comreg-has-permitted-the-use-of-mobile-phone-repeaters/

That page contains a link to a PDF for download.

The Cush

This thread has been inactive for almost 12 months, the more up to date thread is in the Mobiles forum - https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057685415&page=3

Comreg has an FAQ page on Mobile Repeaters with links to lists of manufacturers, suppliers and installers.

https://www.comreg.ie/consumer-information/mobile-phone/mobile-phone-repeaters/
https://www.comreg.ie/media/2018/10/Manufacturers-List.pdf
https://www.comreg.ie/media/2018/11/Supplier_Installer_List2018.pdf