Radiocommunications Agency Business Review 95/96

Maritime

With the perceived congestion in some of the maritime international VHF bands, the possibility of introducing new spectrum efficient technology has been under consideration for some time. This work has been conducted in conjunction with WRC-97 preparations. The introduction of spectrum - efficient technology or narrow - band technology is expected to improve the situation in the longer term, over a decade or so. In the meantime, however, more spectrally efficient technology may be introduced for services limited to the UK, such as the national maritime channels.

The rationalisation of the Coastal Station Radio licensing regime has provided benefits to customers as well as improving administration within the Agency. The contracting out of the work of Ship Radio Licences, to Wray Castle, has been very successful, reflected in the significant reduction of complaints received from customers. The contractor has been successfully meeting the quality of service targets, after the initial running-in period.

Aeronautical

Discussions have been continuing with the Civil Aviation Authority on the management of the frequency spectrum allocated to the aeronautical service. These discussions are primarily focused on identifying ways in which the management of frequency spectrum can be improved.
Following the trials conducted by BT, a commercial Territorial Flight Telecommunications System (TFTS) service has been established in the UK and in a few neighbouring countries. Cable and Wireless is also in the process of becoming the second UK operator with the establishment of a separate TFTS network, a move which is expected to help achieve greater penetration of this new service.

Amateur Radio

A major task during the year was the formation of an Agency/RSGB Packet Working Group to review the operation of amateur packet radio, to consider current and likely future developments and to make recommendations accordingly. The work of the group has mainly centred around the revision of the Mailbox Agreement under which the RSGB issue notices of variation for packet radio mailboxes [bulletin boards] on behalf of the Agency. The group has also looked at unattended operation, including the operation of mailboxes at club addresses, vetting of encoded messages, block clearance of frequencies, connections to the PSTN, foreign language bulletins, nodes including front-end nodes, and the general problem of abuse of packet radio. The working group is expected to deliver its final report in 1996/97.

Following representations from the RSGB, a new amateur radio frequency at 71.6 kHz - 74.4 kHz was introduced for Class A amateurs wishing to investigate LF propagation. Arrangements were also put in place for issuing special call signs to clubs participating in amateur radio contests. From 31 March 1996 the G prefix call signs were withdrawn and were replaced by the new M prefix. This change was necessary due to the G series running out of suitable combinations.

Another issue of concern to amateurs was the international requirement to prove competence in Morse for operation in frequencies below 30 MHz. The question of deleting Radio Regulation 2735 was discussed briefly at WRC-95, but was postponed to WRC-99 in order to allow the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) time to consult regionally. The Agency sees merit in removing this as an international obligation as it would provide flexibility should we decide to remove the Morse test in the future. This is also consistent with a move within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to simplify the radio regulations. However, the Agency is still developing its policy on this issue. The key issues are whether there should be two classes of licence and if so, whether the Morse test is a relevant means of differentiation.
A new contract for distributing amateur and CB licences covering the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1998 was again awarded to Subscription Services Ltd and by the end of the first year of the contract, all performance targets and quality of service measures had been met. A significant and welcomed improvement in customer service.

Citizens' Band Radio

The Agency conducted a consultation exercise to seek the views of licence holders on various issues relating to Citizens' Band (CB) Radio. Around 55,000 questionnaires were sent out and 12,000 replies were received [22%]. Whilst most licence holders were against the idea that some of the existing CB channels should be reserved to carry data only instead of voice, a majority indicated that they would support the introduction of an AM/SSB service which would share the same CEPT channels as those for the existing FM service. A new European Radio Standard for AM/SSB Citizens' Band Radio has recently been developed and published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. This new standard ETS 400 433 enables AM/SSB equipment to be used on the same channels which the CEPT FM equipment currently uses. As the UK will not be adopting this new standard at the present time, AM/SSB equipment is currently not permitted to be sold or used in the United Kingdom. However, in view of the potential interest in such a service, the Agency has decided to conduct extensive compatibility trials to determine whether the new AM/SSB equipment will cause interference to existing FM users and equipment such as television sets and, if so, whether this would render AM/SSB unacceptable.

There was also a large majority in favour of a national representative organisation for CB in the UK. It was subsequently agreed that a working party should be formed to look at how such an organisation could be set up. The Agency fully supports this initiative and enjoys observer status at the working party meetings. A number of respondents also asked us to look at the possibility of allowing 80 channel rigs in the UK. This is being considered but there are several obstacles which would have to be overcome before this could be introduced. These issues were among those discussed at meetings between the Agency and the CB User Groups which continued throughout the year.

Low Power Devices

The year has been a busy one both nationally and on the international scene.
Work included consultation with the Impulse Radar Users Association regarding the use of ground probing radar, making Radar Level Gauges licence - exempt, introducing a channel for video applications and introducing two narrow band channels at 173 MHz.
The MPT 1349 standard for Low Power Applications above 1000 MHz has been amended to include:

the addition of the 1389 to 1399 MHz band for CCTV

the removal of the spread spectrum measurements in the 2.45 GHz band

the increased power level to 500mW in the 2.45 to 2.55 GHz band, and

the inclusion of the licensed 13.4 to 14.0 GHz band.

 

The standard was also amended to remove the 2.4 to 2.5. GHz band spread spectrum methods of measurement. This is now covered by the ETSI standard ETS 300 328.
The amendments to the Short Range Devices Exemption Regulations [SI 1995 No 1081] came into force on 10th May 1995. Further amendments to reflect the changes in MPT 1349 and other issues will be drafted during 1996/1997. On the international scene, the CEPT European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC) issued their report on the Detailed Spectrum Investigation phase II. A number of issues concerned the radio spectrum for Short Range Devices. Inputs were received from the Low Power Radio Association (LPRA) which were included in the UK response. Since then the Agency and LPRA have actively participated in a number of ERC Project Teams dealing with various issues involving Short Range Devices, including revision of the recommendations, frequency and compatibility issues.

The Agency took an active part in the work of ETSI STC-RES 08, including upgrading of the three generic standards, ETS 300-220, - 330 and - 440; the EMC standard ETS 300-683; the radio microphone standards; and the standards for rail automatic vehicle identification, road toll systems and vehicle radar.

The Agency continues to liaise with the model control industry and user group regarding the introduction of a type approval standard based on I-ETS 300 220.
Regarding Radio Local Area Networks (RLANs) the Agency withdrew the UK national arrangements for spread spectrum devices approved to MPT 1349. All new applications should now meet the European ETSI standard ETS 300 328. The Agency has noticed a marked increase in the use of licence-exempt RLANs. The 500 mW power level for tagging devices has still not been approved within CEPT. The Agency has continued to receive expressions of interest from industry regarding the higher power levels.
The Agency took steps to widen the 458 MHz Industrial / Commercial telemetry band to 458.95 MHz. The revised band was included in the 1995 amendment to the Short Range Devices exemption regulations.
Following several requests from industry, the Agency investigated the possibility of allocating two narrow band channels for speech at 173 MHz, to be used in conjunction with data transmission.
A new application for video is to be introduced at 1394 MHz ± 5 MHz, with output power of 500 milliwatts. MPT 1349 was amended to include this application. However, in view of the proposed applications (such as security, surveillance etc and the narrow bandwidth 10 MHz) it is considered that this band is not suitable for video senders.

Space Services
Licensing and Co-ordination

The demand for licences from UK Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) operators to support a range of activities continues to increase. To improve its ability to respond rapidly to licence applications, the Agency has now formalised the 'fast track' site clearance procedure for two-way VSAT (very small aperture terminal) networks using terminals whose power levels do not exceed 45 dBW EIRP.
Coordination between FSS earth stations and terrestrial fixed links offers increasing challenges as the two services experience significant growth rates. The Agency has recently initiated the development of a software tool known as FLATCO to facilitate the rapid clearance of Satellite News Gathering (SNG) terminals in the heavily used 14.25 to 14.5 GHz band whilst protecting emerging fixed service networks.

The Agency has broadened the remit of the Microwave Fixed Link Committee to form the Microwave Fixed Link and Satellite Committee (MFLSC) in order to address more satisfactorily the many emerging joint issues. The existing Satellite Consultative Committee (SCC) has a coordinating role and will continue to act as a forum for an exchange of views on issues of particular relevance to the fixed satellite sector, reporting to the MFLSC as appropriate.
In the field of European legislation the EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) came into force on 1January 1996. Agency staff, along with colleagues from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) CII Division, have actively participated in the work of the European Commission's Working Party on Telecommunications in finalising the draft Licensing Directive.

The Agency has also been closely involved in the work of ETSI-SES in maintaining the previously published European Technical Standards (ETSs) and formulating Technical Bases for Regulations (TBRs) which, after the public enquiry and national vote, will form the bases for implementing the Satellite Directive. At present the following standards have been put out for national voting, subsequent to successful Public Enquiry Resolution meetings:

pr ETS 300 157 Ed2 - 'Receive only Very Small Aperture Terminals operating in the 11/12 GHz bands'

pr ETS 300 159 Ed2 - 'Transmit only or Transmit-and-receive Very Small Aperture Terminals used for communications operating in the 11/12/14 GHz frequency bands'

The remaining standards are still at the Public Enquiry stage:

pr ETS 300 332 Ed2 - 'Transmit only or Transmit-and-receive Very Small Aperture Terminals used for communications operating in the 6 GHz and 4 GHz frequency bands'

pr ETS 300 333 Ed2 - 'Receive only Very Small Aperture Terminals operating in the 4 GHz frequency bands'

pr TBR 028 - 'Very Small Aperture Terminal; Transmit only Transmit-Receive only Satellite Earth Stations operating in the 11/12/14 GHz frequency bands'

pr TBR 030 - 'Satellite News Gathering (SNG) Transportable Earth Stations operating in the 11-12/13-14 GHz frequency bands'.

Development of Computer Tools

SECOM - Satellite and Earth Station Coordination Management.

SECOM will not only form a direct replacement system for the ageing SATCOS satellite coordination system, but will also offer new functionality which will assist in the coordination of earth stations with terrestrial fixed links. SECOM will incorporate the latest ITU-R technical recommendations and implement recognised national and international coordination procedures.

Some revisions have been necessary to the delivery timescales for this project, due in part to some agreed enhancements and also the disruption caused by the headquarters bombing. Release of the space network coordination procedures is now estimated for March 1997, with the earth station coordination function implementation to follow in spring 1998.
To date, the project has completed the logical and physical design stages with all supporting managerial and technical documentation as defined by the European Space Agency software lifecycle standards. The project is soon to complete the build of the satellite coordination modules and commence stringent integration and system testing. A thorough programme of user acceptance tests will be carried out on delivery of the system before formal acceptance and commissioning take place.

LOTEM - Local Terrain Model

LOTEM is a graphical visualisation tool, being developed by the Agency, which will be used during coordination of proposed new earth stations with terrestrial fixed links. It will enable the shielding offered by building clutter and small-scale terrain features to be considered in the coordination process using recognised propagation and diffraction models, and thus will greatly improve the chances of achieving successful coordination.

International Technical Fora

International work in support of the needs of UK fixed satellite operators and space scientists has continued to represent an important element in the work of the Agency. Agency staff have participated in the work of the relevant ITU-R working parties and played a key role during the World Radiocommunication Conference in October 1995.

At the European level, Agency staff have participated in technical fora within the CEPT in order to provide the technical basis for the European positions at WRC-95 and to begin the studies necessary to assist in the development of common European proposals for WRC-97. The agenda for the Ô97 conference contains many issues of importance to UK space service interests.
Technical studies have been carried out by the Agency and papers have been submitted, where appropriate, as UK contributions to the relevant ITU-R and CEPT working groups in support of these activities.

During the last year, key topics have included:

  compatibility studies between the Fixed Service, Inter-satellite Service and passive sensors of the Earth Exploration-Satellite service in the frequency range 50-70 GHz

 continuing studies between non-geostationary fixed satellite systems (such as Teledesic), conventional geostationary fixed satellite and terrestrial fixed systems in the frequency range 20 - 30 GHz

a measurement programme for VSATs has been completed. Based upon this work, a proposal to tighten up the gain pattern for small dish antennas will be submitted to ITU-R Working Party 4A

 continuing work on the difficult sharing problems between the Radioastronomy Service and planned mobile satellite systems at frequencies around 1.6 GHz.

Fixed Services

There was steady demand for new and replacement fixed links during 1995. In future years, it is expected that the level of demand will continue to rise as a wide range of existing and emerging telecommunications operators request terrestrial fixed point-to-point links to create or expand communications networks. Table 4 (page16) illustrates the volumes of applications received each year-since 1990 along with a future demand projection based on underlying trends.
Each month about 175 fixed links are being requested. Fixed Services Section has introduced a number of procedural improvements, including revised thresholds for exemption from site clearance, to keep application turn-around times to a minimum. Further steps will be taken to improve the interface with customers and to develop a proactive rather than reactive approach to market demands. Table 3 (page 14) provides details of the total number of fixed links and scanning telemetry stations licensed at 31 March 1996.
With the completion of the Millimetric Waveband Project the first phase of a wider project to provide the section with an up-to-date computer-based assignment tool is now in place. All 38 GHz assignments are now undertaken on this system, and the other millimetric and microwave fixed services frequency bands will be migrated to this system in a rolling programme scheduled to be fully completed in 1999. This new computerised system and the associated revised working procedures will play a critical role in ensuring that the Fixed Services Section keeps the administrative burden on applicants to a minimum and further improves the quality of service provided to customers.
Test results by the Agency's Radio Technology and Compatibility Group have been produced to show the effects of satellite TDAB signals at 1.5 GHz (L band) on both digital and analogue telephony fixed links.
The effects of radar signals on fixed links have been measured with 6 GHz link equipment. The second harmonic of marine radars can affect such links and the degradations have been measured and results can be used for planning purposes.
Computer simulation has shown that interference from other fixed links has less effect than Gaussian noise. An ITU paper is now in preparation suggesting that the existing noise limited planning for fixed links is rather conservative. It may well be possible to assign more links in a given area based on this work.

Table 3: EQUIPMENT LICENSED UNDER FIXED SERVICES

There has been increasing activity in the area of radio fixed access (RFA). The first operator, Ionica plc, has now commenced commercial services in East Anglia. Discussions have been continuing on the arrangements necessary for broadband CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) RFA networks to co-exist with operators of fixed and fixed satellite systems. Following the award of new RFA spectrum at 2 and 10 GHz, licences are being prepared for the operators who submitted successful bids. Where spectrum needs to be released before the implementation of the new services, the necessary liaison is being undertaken with the existing users.
To increase the fixed services spectrum available for private users, discussions have continued with those operators who currently exclusively manage frequency bands to bring such spectrum under Agency control. On present plans the 2 GHz and lower 6 GHz bands will be the next bands to revert to Agency control in the 1997/1998 period. A phased programme is being drawn up for the remaining bands in this category.

Applications for scanning telemetry systems have remained below the potential requirements of the power and water industries as a result of the continental UHF interference problem. Work has continued in conjunction with the major operators to develop appropriate solutions and interference-nulling equipment has been installed by some operators. Long term solutions are being considered by the interested parties. The introduction of new technologies such as TETRA (Trans European Trunk Radio Access) will be taken into account in these discussions.
The Microwave Fixed Links Committee (MFLC) has met twice and reviewed a range of issues of interest to the fixed services community. As a natural evolution in the Agency's consultative procedures, it has been decided to merge with the Satellite Consultative Committee to form the Microwave Fixed Links and Satellite Committee (MFLSC). This joint committee will provide a stronger framework for the discussion of strategic spectrum management issues of interest to the two sectors. In addition the quarterly Fixed Services Newsletter provides regular updates on developments of interest within the fixed links sector. The Fixed Services Section has played an active and leading role in CEPT and ITU-R fora, with continuing valuable support and inputs from - in particular - the major PTOs. Preparation of the channel plans and related sharing studies are continuing within Working Groups in preparation for the Harmonised European Allocation Table for the frequency range 3.4 - 105 GHz to be implemented by 2008.

Other developments in specific fixed services bands have included:

 agreement of a migration strategy in relation to the 1.5 and proposals for the 23 GHz bands

 opening the 30.00 - 31.80 GHz band for security video use, systems becoming operational during 1995

 steadily rising demand from an expanding range of users for fixed links in the 37.0 - 39.5 GHz band

  there has still been no manufacturer interest in producing equipment and antennas for the 54.25 - 57.2 GHz band despite earlier action within the MFLC to encourage its use for short link lengths of up to 2 km, due to uncertainty within CEPT and ITU as to the actual band edges due to sharing issues with the space science services

  interest in the 57.20 - 58.20 GHz band is buoyant. No interference problems have been reported and this band will remain un-coordinated.

Although equipment on sale after 1 January 1996 has needed to be tested for conformance with EMC requirements by NAMAS accredited test houses, demand for type approval supervised by the Agency fixed services staff has continued to grow as further equipment has become available and as more suppliers have entered the market. One test house has been accredited to the MPT1400 series of specifications, and Agency policy remains that staff will no longer supervise such tests once other test houses have been similarly accredited.

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