Radio interface specifications
- General
- European radio interface specifications
- National radio interface specifications
- Present applicable interface specifications
- Development and implementation
- Special regulations and exceptions for the aeronautical and maritime radio services
- Suspended interface specifications
- Information and orders
General
Interface specifications for radio equipment comprise normative and informative content overview of parameters to help manufacturers carry out the procedures of their choice with regard to the compliance of their radio equipment with the relevant essential requirements set out in Directive 2014/53/EU. The specifications are therefore of key importance for radio equipment and play a large role in, for instance, the
- making available on the single European market,
- putting into service and use, and
- assessment of conformity.
There are two types of radio interface specification in parallel with the two classes of radio equipment defined in the Commission Decision of 6 April 2000 establishing the initial classification of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and associated identifiers (2000/299/EC):
Class 1:
Radio equipment which can be placed on the market in the whole of the Community and put into service without restriction constitutes one class. This class is referred to as "Class 1". An equipment class identifier is not assigned for this class of equipment.
Class 2:
Radio equipment for which Member States apply restrictions on the putting into service as provided for by Article 7 of Directive 2014/53/EU or restrictions on the placing on the market as provided for by Article 40(4) of Directive 2014/53/EU constitutes one class.
European radio interface specifications
The current European radio interface specifications for Class 1 equipment are available for download here.
National specifications are not required for radio equipment which is covered by Class 1 European specifications with EU-wide harmonised radio interface parameters.
National radio interface specifications
National specifications are required only for radio equipment using non EU-wide harmonised frequency bands (Class 2 equipment).
The national specifications from all the Member States provide the basis for the European Commission to establish the equivalence between specifications in accordance with Article 8(2) of Directive 2014/53/EU and consequently develop a single EU-wide binding Class 1 specification defining harmonised radio interface parameters.
In special cases, national specifications may be required even when Class 1 specifications exist if national regulations are planned which deviate from the EU-wide harmonised normative parameters and which, however, aim solely to facilitate procedures. No other national deviations from Class 1 radio interface parameters are allowed.
In Germany section 33(1) of the Act on making Radio Equipment available on the Market (Radio Equipment Act - FuAG) serves as the basis for the publication of national interface specifications. The Radio Equipment Act is part of the Act revising the Rules on Radio Equipment, amending the Telecommunications Act and rescinding the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Act of 27 June 2017 (Federal Law Gazette Part I No. 42, p. 1947).
All interface specifications draw specific attention to the fact that in particular the provisions of the German Telecommunications Act (TKG) relating to frequency management remain unaffected with regard to the putting into service and operation of radio equipment.
Requirements for radio equipment (and for putting into service and operating equipment) laid down in other binding statutory provisions (eg for equipment used in the aeronautical and maritime radio services and the inland waterways service) also remain unaffected.
Present applicable interface specifications
Fixed services (FE)
Fixed satellite services (FES)
Aeronautical service (FL)
Radio determination service (OR)
Land radio service (LA)
Satellite service (FS)
Maritime mobile service (SE)
Broadcasting service (RU)
Special radio service (SF)
Development and implementation
Radio interface specifications are drafted by the Bundesnetzagentur in consultation with the stakeholders. The drafts are notified to the Commission in accordance with the EU-wide procedure for the provision of information in the field of standards and technical regulations laid down in Directive (EU) 2015/1535. The European Commission publishes the drafts in the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS). Comments or detailed opinions can be submitted within a standstill period of (usually) three months.
The specifications are then adopted and enter into force through the publication of an administrative order in the Bundesnetzagentur's Official Gazette. The administrative orders and the final texts of the interface specifications are also published in the TRIS database.
Special regulations and exceptions for the aeronautical and maritime radio services
Some types of radio equipment used in the aeronautical and maritime radio services still require equipment-specific approvals, which are granted on the basis of the relevant traffic regulations issued by national or international organisations (eg the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services (BAF), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH)).
Directive 2014/53/EU and the conformity assessment procedure set out in Article 17 of this Directive do not apply to radio equipment in the maritime radio service, which falls within the scope of the Directive on marine equipment (Directive 2014/90/EU, as amended). Such equipment is subject to the conformity assessment procedure set out in Article 15 of the Directive on marine equipment.
Further information is available on the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency's website (search term: "Schiffsausrüstungsrichtlinie").
Directive 2014/53/EU and the conformity assessment procedures set out in this Directive do not apply to aviation equipment either if this equipment falls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and is intended exclusively for airborne use. Such equipment is subject to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
Suspended interface specifications
A list of the interface specifications that have been suspended since 2010 is available here. For more information please see the Official Gazette administrative orders or contact us at ssb@BNetzA.de.
Information and orders
Printed copies of German radio interface specifications published up to 31 December 2017 can still be purchased. Radio interface specifications published after that date are available free of charge and online, in PDF format.
Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen
Außenstelle Erfurt
Druckschriftenversand
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99096 Erfurt
Germany
Telephone: +49 (0)361 7398-272; Fax: +49 (0)361/7398-184
Email: druckschriften.versand@bnetza.de