Radiocommunications Agency (RA) announces the phasing out of certain cordless telephony frequency bands in the United Kingdom

RA Press Release - 3 March 2000

RA is to phase out the use of certain cordless telephony frequency bands in order to make under-utilised spectrum available for new and innovative applications.

This follows the consultation paper in November 1999: "Cordless Telephony: The Future of Analogue and CT2 Cordless Telephony in the United Kingdom." Discussions with industry supported the findings that:

	Certain frequency bands used for cordless telephony should be phased out over a five-year period from 1 April 2000. As from 1 April 2005 no new equipment should be brought into service, and sales of such equipment should cease.
	These frequency bands will be made available for new and innovative applications.

Some cordless telephony systems have not been used as widely as expected. In particular the use of CT2 (a digital cordless telephony system) is in decline largely due to the success of DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony), which has the advantage of being a harmonised European standard.

Further information on this subject can be found on the Agency's website at: http://www.radio.gov.uk/document/consult/cordless/response.htm

Notes for Editors

1. Cordless telephony is currently provided in the UK by equipment operating in a number of different frequency bands each conforming to a different technical standard. There are three analogue and two digital standards currently available.
2. The phasing out of certain analogue and CT2 phones in this country does not mean that the use of such phones will be illegal. Instead, the manufacture of the analogue and CT2 phones will cease within the detailed timescales.
3. The withdrawal of CT2 telephony reflects recommendations made in the Detailed Spectrum Investigation Phase III report, issued by the European Radio Committee in October 1999.
4. The RA consultation document contains a review of the emerging innovative products and services that could use the CT2 spectrum, resulting in more effective use of the scarce radio spectrum resource and generating economic benefits to the UK economy.

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E-mail: library@ra.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.radio.gov.uk

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