Blog authored by the SCF Regulatory and Policy Group, with content activity led by Ana Urban Atance, Regulatory and EU Affairs, Cellnex Telecom

While the adoption of 5G has advanced significantly, challenges remain in terms of deploying SAWAPs (Small Area Wireless Access Points), and their deployment remains uneven across EU member states due to national regulatory variations and technical constraints. These inconsistencies limit the scalability of SAWAP deployments, with existing rules on power limitations and volume requirements posing further challenges for multi-operator setups.

On July 24, 2024, the European Commission adopted an amendment to the 2020 Commission Implementing Regulation concerning the characteristics of small cells. This update marks a significant advancement in the regulations related to deployment of SAWAPs across Europe, as it now includes small cells utilizing active antenna systems.

The SCF welcomes this inclusion, recognizing its potential to support advanced wireless infrastructure. However, there are still important concerns that need to be addressed to ensure the regulatory framework fully supports the growing demand for connectivity.

Reality shows that the SAWAP rule has not led to wide-spread use, because the current technical specifications do not address the real needs of small cells services. This has limited the ability to accelerate deployments and support network densification. Below are some key Updates and Recommendations to the current SAWAP regulations that SCF believes would foster the small cells roll out across the EU:

1. Minimum Volume Requirement: The regulation currently specifies a maximum volume requirement of 30 liters for SAWAP deployments. However, in practice, a minimum volume of 50 liters is necessary to effectively support multi-technology or multi-operator SAWAPs. This change would provide greater flexibility in accommodating diverse network configurations.
2. Ceiling Height Limitations: The current SAWAP regulation stipulates a minimum ceiling height of 4 meters, which SCF believes is overly restrictive for E10 compliance. A more reasonable suggestion is to allow a ceiling height of 3 meters for smaller venues. This adjustment would enable a wider range of spaces to benefit from enhanced connectivity without compromising structural integrity.
3. Power limitations: The limitation of SAWAPs to E0, E1, and E10 configurations has raised concerns regarding its restrictiveness as many larger venues would require higher EIRP. The current restriction hampers the ability to deploy robust networks in areas where demand is high. Indeed, real deployment shows that small cells with E100 capabilities are becoming increasingly common in SAWAP deployments. SCF strongly suggests establishing a permit-exempt regime for E100 to further enhance connectivity. This would streamline the deployment process, allowing for faster and more efficient access to reliable wireless services.

Therefore, while the current amendment to the regulatory framework for small cells is a welcome development, it is clear that further refinements are necessary to ensure extensive network densification. The SCF encourages ongoing dialogue between stakeholders to address the highlighted concerns and create a regulatory environment that fosters innovation and meets the evolving needs of the telecommunications sector. The goal should be to ensure that the deployment of small-area wireless access points not only supports current technologies but also paves the way for future advancements in connectivity facilitating a rational and efficient technical and economic deployment.

As the industry moves forward, it is essential to strike a balance between regulation and flexibility, enabling operators to provide robust and reliable services to consumers while promoting a competitive and innovative landscape, and SCF is ready to support and facilitate necessary interactions

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