Technology
|
Technology
|
|
Research programme and propagation The Agency published the results of a comprehensive review of its research activities in March 2000. One result of that review was the formation of the Radio Research Advisory Committee (RRAC) with an external chairman, Mr Peter Kiddle OBE. One of the primary tasks of the RRAC is to advise and comment on the direction of the Agency's research programme by developing a research strategy for radio-related topics. The RRAC presented its strategy to an Open Forum meeting held in November 2001. Four themes have been proposed to categorise research:
The RA management board has endorsed the strategy. Further activity on prioritisation of research work continues, and the RRAC will also advise on project evaluation. Studies at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory continued, and the proportion of research contracted out to universities and other locations was increased. The amount of ionospheric study was reduced, and higher frequency and satellite-related research intensified. Weather and vegetation effects on higher frequencies were also investigated. This research provided data to underpin the Agency's licensing allocation. It also supported research in the EU COST programme and inputs to ITU-R Study Group 3. Other research areas included the use of mathematical modelling in frequency assignment and the development of spectrum sharing models. This work gives an in-depth understanding as to how the spectrum can be viewed as a whole. Coupled with an increased knowledge of the physical characteristics of the spectrum, it will allow future marketing and administration developments to be undertaken effectively. |
Alan Cook of RTCG with Ikenna Ikoku, an engineer from the Nigerian Communications Commission |
International consultancy The Agency's partnership with CMG, Radio Spectrum International (RSI), continues to develop its international business with spectrum regulators. The Agency has provided resources for several consultancy projects. Through RSI, the Agency's monitoring station at Baldock provided training in spectrum management and monitoring for engineers from the Nigerian Communications Commission. RSI is currently involved in projects in Nigeria for Fixed Wireless Access and licensing a second national operator. The Agency continues to work with Poland on an EU "twinning" project. Officials from the Polish Radiocommunications Agency, URT, paid a study visit in February 2002 to Baldock Radio Monitoring Station. |
|
In the face of the increasing pressures on the spectrum, the Agency's aim is to make more effective use of this finite resource. We are seeking to do this through more effective planning of spectrum use, under the Spectrum Strategy (see Objective 8). However, we are also adopting a range of new measures to promote increased spectrum efficiency. In doing so, we are making use of powers under Section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 which enable the Secretary of State to provide financial support, either through direct grants to users or through the financing of relevant research, for measures to promote the efficient use or management of the radio spectrum. In this context, the Agency's core research programme (described under Objective 9 above) is being supplemented by new longer-term "blue-sky" research measures aimed at promoting spectrum efficiency. This work is driven by and closely tied in with the RA Spectrum Strategy. Relevant research themes will include spectrum efficiency, including the implications of new spectrally efficient technologies, spectrum sharing and the implications of convergence for spectrum management. The Agency is also taking a more proactive approach to the refarming of spectrum. Until now, when it has been necessary to make spectrum available for new services, our normal approach has been to give a long period of notice to existing users (where applicable) that they may be required to move and to seek to identify alternative new spectrum to accommodate their needs. While the Agency will continue to work closely with all users in its spectrum planning, we recognise that, given the increasing pressures on the spectrum, and the rapid timescale for the development of new services, it may sometimes be necessary to act more quickly than in the past to make spectrum available. In such cases, we will consider making direct financial support available to existing users either to compensate them for loss of their spectrum, or to facilitate their investment in new, more spectrally efficient equipment, making use of the powers under Section 5 of the 1998 Act. This is being considered, for example, in relation to the need to re-configure parts of the 3.4 GHz band in order to improve spectrum-efficient use of the band and to harmonise spectrum for Public Fixed Wireless Access services in the UK with those of the rest of the world. Radar study A detailed study of spectrum management issues relating to civil aeronautical and maritime radar was undertaken during the year and is expected to be completed in 2002. The study has helped to identify certain characteristics including both wanted and unwanted radar emissions, and has identified mitigation options for dealing with compatibility issues. The results of the study will help the Agency to achieve efficient spectrum usage and to determine the value of this part of the spectrum. |
|
Baldock Monitoring Station This building was completely refurbished and substantially extended in 2001, giving us more modern accommodation, conference and meeting facilities. We are now able to welcome national and international visitors and host meetings in improved surroundings. There are two strategic projects under way at Baldock, each having a significant positive impact on the monitoring services we provide and thereby strengthening our engineering base. Unattended monitoring This project, to develop and provide Unattended Monitoring Systems (UMS), is designed to meet the Agency's need for systematic monitoring of spectrum usage on a national basis. This year we have deployed a further four UMS units, bringing the total to 16. These are totally self-contained and portable, and have been installed in the major urban areas of congestion in order to assess channel occupancy and so aid future assignments. Further development work is under way to install more UMS units in the field. The data gathered by the UMS units became available online in May 2001 to RA field engineers throughout the United Kingdom and to the headquarters licensing sections, where it contributes towards future decisions on frequency allocation and assignment and supports the setting of fees under Spectrum Pricing. Remote monitoring and direction finding This project involves the development and deployment of a nation-wide remote monitoring and direction-finding system (RMDF). This will provide remote VHF and UHF monitoring and direction-finding capabilities and will be used to help in the location and elimination of harmful interference. The first phase, involving transportable units, has been completed this year, with several successful field deployments to solve specific problems of intermittent interference. To begin the second phase, a contract has been placed for the first batch of fixed RMDF units, with the intention to deploy these at strategic locations throughout the UK. These units will be remotely controlled from Baldock, and in later phases remote access will also be available for field engineers in order to help them more quickly resolve interference reported direct to the Agency's regional offices. The Radio Technology and Compatibility Group (RTCG)
Located at Whyteleafe, Surrey, RTCG provides the Agency with a specialised technical investigation resource to help provide engineering solutions to a wide range of compatibility and interference-related issues. These focus particularly on new radio systems and services and their interaction with existing services. RTCG has now completed an extensive 2-year modernisation programme culminating in the installation of a fully anechoic chamber (FAC). This FAC will enable RTCG to further extend its capabilities into the EMC and RF emissions testing field. An increasing number of non-radio products are producing emissions that can have a detrimental effect on a wide range of radio services and the FAC will enable accurate measurements to be carried out in a controlled and calibrated environment. In addition to the FAC, RTCG has a range of modern equipment and facilities including:
RTCG performs all its measurement work to UKAS standards and is accredited to ISO 17025, thereby assuring high quality standards and traceable results. During the year, we have worked on most of the current radio hot topics. Areas of work include:
RTCG has embarked on a major exercise to publish as many of its project reports as possible. These reports may be found on the Agency's website at www.radio.gov.uk/topics/research/rtcg We have also been involved in training Agency staff and external students by producing training modules on such subjects as digital TV systems and the correct laboratory use of spectrum analysers. On a non-technical note, we were pleased to hear that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport granted the main block of our building Grade 2 listed status. The building was formerly the officers' mess of RAF Kenley which saw considerable action during the Battle of Britain, and it is this historical importance rather than the architecture itself which has led to the listing. In our modernisation programme we have been sensitive to the historical significance of the site and have allocated one room as an internal museum. Table 11: Business Units
Click on Picture to view a PDF version
|
Channel occupancy chart showing data from unattended monitoring systems coming in to Baldock Monitoring Station (below)
|
|
|
|
 |
