RA seeks help from industry on spectrum re-alignment

Press Release - 23 October 2001

The Radiocommunications Agency is today issuing a questionnaire to radio users in the 450-470MHz band to gather information on how band re-alignment will affect industry.

The purpose of the questionnaire is to obtain information about the technical and economic status of radio systems throughout industry. This information will be a vital resource in helping to plan the implementation of re-alignment.

The questionnaire is also available on the Radiocommunications Agency website at: www.radio.gov.uk/topics/spectrum-strat/450-470-realign/question/question.htm
It should be returned to the published address by 23rd November 2001.

Why are we re-aligning the 450-470MHz band?

Within the 450-470MHz band there is very little scope to allow new technology to be introduced or to allow existing systems to expand. To address these issues it is necessary to bring the use of frequencies in this band into line with a common European plan. This will bring significant benefits:

the structure of the band will match that used on the continent, leading to economies of scale in equipment.

the spare capacity created will allow existing systems to develop and grow

it will be easier to introduce pan-European digital technology, and

continental interference levels will be substantially reduced.

Notes for editors

1. The Radiocommunications Agency is an executive agency of the DTI, responsible for licensing civil use of the radio spectrum in the UK.

2. The 450-470MHz band re-alignment project will affect several types of radio use - programme making, on-site private mobile radio, wide-area private mobile radio, telemetry, public paging and private wide-area paging. These are used for a variety of business activities such as taxis, broadcasting, medical, retail, transport, construction, education, banking, security, utilities, government and leisure.

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 0500
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 0099
Radiocommunications Agency website: www.radio.gov.uk
Out of hours: 020 7215 5110/5600
Textphone for those with hearing impairment: 020 7215 6740

RA/PN/2001/12