ITU Study Group Nears Approval of EMI, EMC Standards
GENEVA -- An ITU study group preliminarily approved a new specification, reference materials and guidelines for telecom gear electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Coverage includes broadband services and home networking, officials said.
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ITU study group 5 (SG5) Fri. gave preliminary approval to K.69, on maintenance and grounding of protective devices and assemblies in telecom installations, said Roberto Pomponi of Telecom Italia, chmn., of SG5. The specification addresses protection of telecom gear and facilities and cable plants exposed to external interference such as over-voltages and over-currents due to lightning discharges or power induction.
SG5 also revised K.48, on EMC requirements for telecom equipment, Pomponi said. K.48 specifies emission and immunity requirements for switching, transmission, power, digital mobile base station, wireless LAN, digital radio relay system, digital subscriber line (xDSL) and supervisory gear, documents said. It also describes operational conditions for emission.
Due to interference problems with DSL deployment in home networking, SG5 developed a simple document explaining how EMI threatens home network deployment and offering a first round of test results, documents said. The work aims to improve the information on the home network electromagnetic environment to establish problem-free operation.
SG5 will revise recommendation K.60 on emission level and test methods for telecom networks during RF interference. “It is clear with broadband services, you have more and more high frequency signal” over twisted pair wire, which emits a radio field able to disturb radio services, said Pomponi. Amateur radio and police frequencies in some nations may be affected. The work seeks to harmonize regulatory emission levels for managing interference problems caused by telecom networks with European Conference of Postal & Telecom Administrations emission rules, documents said.
SG5 is developing “EMF Estimator,” a software tool for predicting EMF, and a new recommendation on how to reduce the risk. A recommendation (K.mitigation) says what may be done to mitigate potential risk to humans from electromagnetic fields radiated by installations, Pomponin said: “We have to take into account existing radiating sources: a broadcasting station that maybe belong to another organization,” for example. The software and the new specification are expected in late 2007.
The group may sponsor a workshop in Nov. 2007 on EMF impact on humans, Pomponi said. Besides ITU-R, World Health Organization, International Electrotechnical Commission, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization and other international bodies are expected to participate.
A recommendation on classifying interfaces for applying standards on resistability and safety of telecom equipment was expected, but was delayed. The spec will give guidelines for operators and manufacturers on classifying the interfaces for gear installed at customer premises and in telecom networks, including telecom centers. More work is needed before they submit K.interface for approval, officials said.
Two ITU-T study groups began work on a new recommendation on active electronics in the outside plant. Jan Erreygers of Tyco Electronics Raychem is coordinating work within SG5. SG5 is to meet next in Geneva May 14-18, though the meeting may be moved to China.