Spectrum sharing in 800 MHz band: Experimental, estimation of LoRa networks and air traffic control radars co-existence

To date, remote metering devices (electricity, gas, water and heat) operating in the 800 MHz band (862-869 MHz) are used either by IoT providers or by metering service providers to determine the energy etc. consumption in private houses from the outside without the need to enter the building. Meters can be integrating as simple LoRaWAN device transmitters connected to a central database by base stations for data collection. The 800 MHz frequency band is allocated in a number of CIS and Eastern Europe countries to the aeronautical radionavigation service on a primary basis for dispatcher radars for air traffic control (ATC). Metering devices of LoRaWAN networks can be located near airports and transmit narrow-band signals which can interfere with ATC radar receivers. Presented research describes defined scenarios of possible harmful interference between ATC radar receivers and device transmitters for metering applications of LoRaWAN networks which could appear in the 800 MHz frequency band. For such scenarios the ITU and CEPT have not formulated criteria and not defined interference levels for protection against FSK narrow-band interference. The proposed protection criteria for ATC radars from interferences of LoRaWAN device transmitters were tested by experimental studies and obtained experimental data would allow solving the EMC and spectrum-sharing problems in a complex electromagnetic environment of modern airports in the 800 MHz frequency band.