Cellular & 3G Telephony

CONTENTS:

1. Introduction

(i) General;
(ii) What is a Mobile Phone?
(iii) Digital vs Analogue
(iv) Further Information

2. UK 2G Cellular Operators

3. UK Third-Generation (3G) Operators

4. UK Cellular Frequency Ranges

5. Other Sources Of Information

1. INTRODUCTION

(i) General

Cellular telephony was initially developed for mobile business communications, but now also has an increasing emphasis on public social and leisure uses. Pre-packaged cellphone access is becoming increasingly popular for occasional users and young people. Functionality has developed to the point where the integration of voice and data (such as using cellphones with fax modems or laptop PC data transfer) now overlaps the data markets, and the software development of closed user groups affects CBS/PAMR/TETRA markets.

(ii) What Is a Mobile Phone?

A mobile phone is simply a wireless version of a fixed telephone that is connected to the public phone network. Because of this flexibility, users of mobile phones can make or take calls almost anywhere within the UK and, through roaming onto other networks, abroad.

There are various technologies used within the mobile phone world. Currently, digital technology known as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is used by the four network operators in two frequency ranges centred around 900 MHz and 1800 MHz respectively.

(iii) Digital Vs Analogue

GSM was developed to improve the quality and the flexibility of first-generation analogue mobile phone services, and to standardise the technology needed to allow mobile phones to make and receive calls when the user is travelling abroad. Compared with first-generation mobile phones, GSM (also called second-generation or 2G) offers better speech quality, confidentiality, built-in PIN (Personal Identity Number) security and the option of international roaming. Evolution of GSM phones to incorporate technologies (known as 2½G or 2.5G) such as Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) allows enhanced multimedia services such as web-browsing and picture messaging.

(iv) Further Information

Further information on cellular networks can be found on the following RA web pages:

Mobile Phone Base Stations - Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/mpsafety/school-audit/stewqa.htm

Mobile Phone Base Stations - How Mobile Phone Networks Work
http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/mpsafety/school-audit/mobilework.htm

Mobile Phones: Jargon Explained
http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/mpsafety/school-audit/jargon.htm

Sitefinder (Mobile Base Station Database)
http://www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk/home.htm

United Kingdom Table of Radio Frequency Allocations 9 kHz - 105 GHz
http://www.radio.gov.uk/publication/ra_info/ra365.htm

If you have any further queries relating to cellular telephony in the UK, please contact the Public Wireless Networks Unit on 020 7211 0354 or email pwn@ra.gsi.gov.uk

If you have any other queries, please contact the RA Enquiry Point on 020 7211 0211 or email library@ra.gsi.gov.uk.

2. UK 2G CELLULAR OPERATORS

In the UK there are four national cellular operators.

Apart from these national UK cellular operators there are also three "regional" cellular operators which provide cellular services for specific geographical areas:

3. UK THIRD-GENERATION (3G) OPERATORS

In the UK there are five national third-generation (3G) operators.

4. UK CELLULAR FREQUENCY RANGES

GSM 900 Frequency Range:

Mobile transmit (BTx) 880 - 915 MHz
Base transmit (MTx) 925 - 960 MHz

GSM 1800 Frequency Range:

Mobile transmit (BTx) 1710 - 1785 MHz
Base transmit (MTx) 1805 - 1880 MHz

Third-Generation (3G) Frequency Range:

Base transmit (BTx) 2110 - 2170 MHz
Mobile transmit (MTx) 1920 - 1980 MHz

BTx / MTx In TDD (Time Division Duplex) 1900 - 1920 MHz

The specific frequencies in use by the UK cellular systems may also be found at www.ero.dk under "Frequency Plans" and then "GSM Spectrum Use".

5. OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Department of Trade and Industry - Communications and Information Industries (CII) Directorate

www.dti.gov.uk/cii/

UK Office of Telecommunications (Oftel)

www.oftel.gov.uk

Guernsey Office of Utility Regulation (OUR)

http://www.regutil.gg/

Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA)

http://www.jcra.je/

European Radio Office

www.ero.dk

National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB)

www.nrpb.org.uk

International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)

www.icnirp.de

World Health Organisation (WHO)

www.who.ch

Department of Health

www.doh.gov.uk

Stewart Report ("Mobile Phones and Health")

www.iegmp.org.uk

The text of UK legislation is available from the HMSO

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/index-content.htm

A full listing of RA supplementary legislation can be found at

http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/legislation/leg-index.htm