Business Review 1996/1997

Managing the Spectrum

Public Paging Services

ERMES

Following successful trials to evaluate the compatibility of the new ERMES paging services with existing PBR services, frequencies were allocated for the ERMES Operators in November 1996. All ERMES Operators are now obliged to take up their licences by 19 November 1997 and then to start rolling out their networks. Criteria to protect PBS users from ERMES interference have been agreed by the Agency.

Cordless Telephony

Public Access Cordless Telephony (PACT)

The results of the DTI consultation on 'The Future of Cordless Telephony in the UK' confirmed that there was a demand for new digital services, and demonstrated the need for new radio channels to ease the congestion on existing analogue cordless services.

Implementation of the main proposals outlined in the consultation document is now under way. In particular, the DTI has produced a draft Telecommunications Act cordless class licence which has been put out for consultation and the Agency has produced application forms and draft WT licences for the proposed public cordless services.
The Agency is to assign eight additional paired channels for analogue cordless phones in the 31-39 MHz frequency bands and is deferring a formal review of the use of digital CT2 spectrum from 1999 until February 2002, providing additional reassurance on the continuation of digital CT2 technology in the UK. A new MPT specification for the additional analogue cordless channels has been produced and notified to the Commission under the 83/189 Directive.

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