Study - Actions at early stages to achieve coexistence between radio systems

Authors:

  • Tore Lindgren
  • Börje Asp
  • Karina Fors
  • Sara Linder
  • Kia Wiklundh

Publish date: 2018-05-07

Report number: FOI-R--4570--SE

Pages: 51

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • coexistence
  • integration
  • interference protection
  • intersystem interference

Abstract

Military platforms are often equipped with several different radio systems on a small surface, which creates a high risk of interference between the various systems. The problems are further emphasized by the lack of frequencies available for military services. In order to ensure that radio systems can coexist without performance degradation, consideration is required regarding other radio systems and the electromagnetic environment in which the radio system should operate in. This work defines the problems that underlie the difficulties in ensuring coexistence between radio systems. The problem is described in its entirety and then broken down into a number of issues that need to be addressed in procurement, integration on platform, action proposals and use to ensure that systems can coexist. The report also consists of a brief summary of the frequency bands used for the Defense Force's radio system today, pros and cons as well as which frequency bands are possible to use in the future. In order to achieve coexistence between radio systems, planning and actions are required at early stages when a radio system is to be procured or integrated on a platform. Through a structured approach and awareness at early stages, the problems can be partially prevented, which means that late action costs can be kept down and better communication system performance can be achieved. The conclusion is that guidelines are required that can be used, for example, in the field of radio technology, antenna solutions and how these should be integrated on platforms, establishing a number of early stage activities and an overall responsible (for electronic environment and communication) for each platform. This overall responsible will monitor and handle problems related to system integration. Furthermore, there is a need for education for both end-users and product managers to provide knowledge about the consequences of poor system integration, and to provide more handy recommendations that include functional safety and EMC aspects. Methods should also exist for dealing with situations when the communication connection does not work conflict-free. Finally, it should be noted that the factor that today strongly affects the difficulty for coexistence between radio systems is the lack of frequencies. The actual frequency assignment is crucial for the possibility of interference protection against intentional interference, that radio systems can coexist and thus determine the actual communication range and availability. Therefore, it is of great importance to assure the availability of frequencies already in the procurement of radio systems.