450-470MHz Band Re-alignment Project Update June 2001

The re-alignment project is steadily progressing and the proposed band plan will be issued shortly as part of a consultation document. The responses to the consultation document will provide the necessary information for the final arrangements to be put into place to ensure the project is successful.

A survey will also be distributed to most of the band's users; this will help us in planning the implementation. It was hoped that the survey would have been distributed by now, however, it is currently being delayed by the general election and is due to be sent out in July 2001.

The process of re-alignment is planned to begin in May 2005 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is scheduled to take place in a rolling programme lasting perhaps several years. The re-alignment in Scotland is still planned to start around 2007 but it is increasingly likely that it could begin sooner. The timescales are driven by the emergency services' release of spectrum in the band, resulting from their migration to new systems in the 380-400MHz band. In England and Wales the spectrum will be released by the end of 2004. Northern Ireland will have a system operational by then, as will the Isle of Man. Jersey already has an operational system. Scotland will release the spectrum once their emergency services have migrated - the current 'Ready For Service' date for the new system is planned for 2005, but spectrum is not expected to be released for some time after that.

Regular updates on the project will now be posted on the website to keep everybody informed and up-to-date with the latest developments. Although frequency transitions are not planned to start for several years we must not become complacent but be ready and prepared to ensure a smooth running project.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the project management team on 020 7211 0312 or e-mail alexandra.hagger@ra.gsi.gov.uk