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Radio spectrum is managed at several broad geographic levels, global, European and national, at increasing levels of detail. In the UK its management is split between Ofcom and the Ministry of Defence. The demands upon radio spectrum are many; it is allocated to services such as broadcasting, mobile, fixed, radionavigation, satellite communications and research amongst others. These demands are also variable. The needs of established users must be balanced with those of new services which often have quite different requirements and employ new technologies.

The Spectrum and International Policy Team (SIPT) manages the national allocation process. It seeks to coordinate the multiple interests within Ofcom with those of government departments and external stakeholders. Within Ofcom a senior-level Spectrum Coordination Group provides the focal point for inter-related spectrum management issues. Formal coordination with government is the responsibility of a committee of the Cabinet Office, the UK Spectrum Strategy Committee (UKSSC), of which Ofcom is a participant. More informally, the team maintains regular contact with government departments on a range of spectrum issues.

SIPT also coordinates international activities, principally in relation to spectrum. Ofcom has a statutory obligation to represent the UK in the Conference of European Postal and Telecommunication administrations (CEPT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (both with some exceptions) and the spectrum committees of the European Union (EU). We also are involved in several other international organisations, in pursuit of our objectives and the interests of our stakeholders, including the European Telecommunication Standardisation Institute (ETSI). SIPT organises UK consultation meetings for the international committees concerned as well as leading the UK delegations in many cases.

Mike Goddard is head of SIPT

• CEPT
  The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) is the European regional organisation dealing with postal and telecommunications issues and presently has members from 46 Countries.
• ETSI
  

  The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is an independent, not for profit organisation, whose mission is to produce telecommunications standards for today and for the future.

• EU
  The development of radio spectrum policy in the EU is based on the Radio Spectrum Decision 676/2002/EC.
• ERO Document Database
  This database is a library of decisions, recommendations and reports approved by the ECC. The database also contains information on EC Decisions relating to spectrum use.
• ITU
  The ITU, headquartered in Geneva, is an international organisation within the United Nations System where governments and the private sector co-ordinate global telecom networks and services.
• Ofcom Contacts

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