Ensuring the efficient use of spectrum is one of Ofcom’s key responsibilities, benefiting both UK consumers and the wider economy. Achieving this requires a detailed understanding of how spectrum is used by services and of factors, such as background Radio Noise, that can affect their performance.
Radio noise is a form of spectrum pollution and generated by almost all electronic devices and can degrade spectrum quality, reducing coverage and service performance. To maintain a desired quality of service, it may be necessary to use additional spectrum, increase transmit power or apply a combination of different approaches to mitigate the impact of radio noise. As electronic devices become increasingly widespread in everyday life, it is becoming more important to measure radio noise and understand its impact.
Recognising the limited empirical evidence on radio noise since 1980s, Ofcom’s Spectrum Group published an update report in November 2024 on its long-term measurement campaign that was initiated in 2021 to improve our understanding of the extent and impact of radio noise in the UK. The measurement campaign concluded in June 2026. One of the primary outcomes of our campaign is the development of a novel method for predicting indoor radio noise. The results of our research and modelling approach[1] have been published in the peer-reviewed Journal, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility and subsequently incorporated into Recommendation ITU-R P.372[2].
This Recommendation provides guidance that can be used to estimate the impact of different sources of noise on the performance of radiocommunication systems. The inclusion of Ofcom’s model represents a significant contribution to the international understanding of radio noise, strengthening the technical basis for service planning, interference assessment and authorisation decisions.
[2]ITU-R P.372 Radio Noise Section 6.2 Indoor radio noise from man-made sources