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A Strategy for the Future Use of the Radio
Spectrum in the UK
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A Strategy for the Future Use of the Radio
Spectrum in the UK
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8.1 Public Access Mobile Radio (PAMR)
There has been continued growth in the number of subscribers for PAMR services (albeit from a low base) which is leading to the progressive filling of capacity on the one national and various regional networks. Virtually all the spectrum in Band III allocated for PAMR has been assigned.
The Agency has been negotiating with the Ministry of Defence for the release of spectrum in the 410-430 MHz band for the introduction of second generation digital PAMR services. In March 1996, the Agency issued a DTI consultative document proposing that the currently available 2´2 MHz of spectrum should be made available for 2 national operators with some of this spectrum kept in reserve for future expansion, see Appendix C for details of the document. It is not currently the intention to make available any spectrum for regional TETRA systems.
8.2 Public Paging Networks
There are now 4 national and 2 regional (i.e. London) operators of public paging networks using the POCSAG standard. In February 1996 the Agency issued a DTI consultative document inviting views on how spectrum for the ERMES service should be allocated, see Appendix C for details of the document. ERMES is a new European standard for paging which offers the prospects of European - wide roaming. Spectrum has been allocated for this service in many European countries at VHF. In co-operation with the United Kingdom Paging Operators Association, the Agency carried out a series of field trials which established that the potential for ERMES systems giving rise to interference to PBR services in adjoining bands was much less than the theoretical calculations had suggested. The successful completion of this work opens up the way for the introduction of new ERMES services in the UK in the near future.
8.3 Public Mobile Data Systems
There continues to be a growing interest in the use of data. The UK has 4 networks that provide dedicated data communications on a national basis. Alongside these, other networks - both public mobile telephony and PAMR - are able to act as the carriers of data communications. There is therefore a good deal of choice to users of data communications - and this is expected to increase significantly with the introduction of digital systems.
The Agency, however, recognises that there remains a niche in the market for the provision of data via dedicated data networks and, in the light of continuing interest, issued a further licence in 1995.
There continues to be much interest in the public provision of automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems and the Agency is regularly asked to provide national channels for proprietary systems aimed at this market. The Agency is firmly of the view that those wishing to provide AVL systems to the public should utilise the capacity which is available on the existing data - or other - public networks. The Agency has no intention of releasing spectrum specifically for AVL systems.
8.4 Common Base Stations (CBS)
CBS operators provide mobile services to a variety of users (often small users) within a locality. Most of the 1300 CBS systems operate on a single channel from a single site. The future approach to CBS has been the subject of extensive discussions with the industry recently as a result of which new assignment criteria has been recently introduced. These define a protected local coverage area for CBS services and a strict limit on interference levels. This is in line with the Agency's policy of introducing, where practical, workable quality criteria for channel assignments.
Reserve channels in low and mid band VHF have been made available, subject to conformance to the new criteria. Operators are being encouraged to concentrate on the provision of a quality local service to complement the regional and national PAMR and cellular/Personal Communications Network (PCN) networks.
Additional spectrum in Band I has also recently been made available for CBS services. It is intended that this spectrum will be allocated in 5 channel blocks to provide scope for future expansion and to encourage trunking. The new Band I systems may provide wider coverage than the existing systems, particularly in rural areas.
8.5 Public Mobile Telephony
The significant growth in the market for these services has led commentators to revise upwards their forecasts of the size of this market - now seen as up to 14 million subscribers by the year 2000. This is serviced by Cellnet and Vodafone - with their analogue and GSM networks - and by Mercury One-2-One and Orange with their PCN networks.
The continued growth has led to pressures on existing spectrum and in March 1996, the DTI's Communications and Information Industries Division, in conjunction with the Agency, issued a DTI consultative document proposing how remaining PCN spectrum at 1.8 GHz should be assigned, see Appendix C for details of the document. In essence this proposes that this further spectrum should be allocated, subject to demonstration of need, to the existing 4 operators. It also proposes that plans should now be formulated by Cellnet and Vodafone for the migration of existing customers of the analogue networks onto the GSM digital networks and for the closure of the analogue networks by 2005. The consultative document also noted that planning was underway for 3rd generation future public land mobile telephone systems using spectrum around 2 GHz.
8.6 Cordless Communications
In view of developments in the cordless telecommunications market a review of spectrum allocations for cordless applications is to be undertaken
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