The Radiocommunications Agency – its role in managing the UK Radio Spectrum

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The Radiocommunications Agency (RA) was established as an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on 2 April 1990. It is responsible for managing most non-military radio spectrum in the UK and for representing the UK in international meetings on radio.

Managing the Radio Spectrum: A Vital National Resource

The knowledge-driven economy relies on efficient communications, and radio is a uniquely versatile communications medium. The radio spectrum supports an enormous range of services and applications and is in increasing demand by many kinds of users. The spectrum is a finite resource and its effective management by the Agency is crucial to UK success in the Information Age.

Radio is increasingly important to business efficiency and international competitiveness.

Radio makes a considerable, and fast-growing, contribution to the economy. Spectrum-based businesses employ hundreds of thousands of people and make up one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy. Radio in its many diverse forms is of vital importance to businesses, from High Street taxis and freight transport to broadcasting and multi-national telecommunications. For example, telephone traffic is often carried by radio over links between cities and on international links via satellites; and mobile telephones would be quite impossible without radio. Overall, spectrum-based businesses of all sizes throughout the economy generate billions of pounds for the economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Quality and safety of life

The radio spectrum is not used solely for business. Radio entertains and informs us; allows us to communicate for business and for pleasure; assists safe travel by land, air and sea; provides the effective communications on which the emergency services and armed forces depend for their operational efficiency and assists scientific research.

Radio plays an increasingly important part in our everyday life.

The radio spectrum is used for a vast range of business, cultural, social and scientific purposes. Television and sound broadcasting spring immediately to mind but mobile telephones, radar, walkie-talkies, amateur and Citizens' Band radio, satellite navigation systems, air traffic control, radioastronomy and many, many other services and applications we take for granted also use radio spectrum.

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