Date:
Meeting:
Author:
28th March 2001
FLCC
Document Reference:
Working Paper No:
106749902
FLCC (01-01) / 010
Raj Sivalingam
Radiocommunications Agency
Subject:
FTSLU Assignment Policy Situation Update
__________________________________________________________________________
A review of current issues in some of the UK Fixed Links Frequency Bands are presented. The bands
listed below are not, however, an exhaustive list of all UK Fixed Links Bands. Please refer to
Information Sheet RA143 for a complete list.
Frequency
Issues
Band
1.5GHz Bands:
 Low->medium capacity private user. Analogue / digital
Bx: 1450-1467.5 and
 No assignments / licensing of new links, in 1.5 GHz bands, due
to T-DAB implementation.
1512.5-1530MHz
E: 1467.5-1472.5and
 New CEPT 1.4 GHz band (see below) available as replacement
– but digital only.
507.5-1512.5MHz
F1: 1472.5-1474 and
 Existing Links must vacate by 2007. Some links may have to
1492-1493.5;
move sooner.
D: 1474-1487 and
1493.5-1506.5MHz
1.6 GHz:
F3:1672-1676 and
1686-1690MHz

1.8 GHz :
1764-1792 and
1872-1900 MHz





1.4 GHz:
1350-1375 and
1492-1517MHz



1900-2300 MHz




No assignment / licensing of new links due to T-DAB and
(originally, TFTS).
Existing Links must vacate by 2007. Some links may have to
move sooner.
PCN frequencies
No assignment / licensing of new links
Handful of legacy links remaining
Existing Links must vacate by 2007. Some links may have to
move sooner, in case of sharing difficulties with PCN networks.
Replacement CEPT band for 1.5 /1.6 /1.8 GHz links ( see
above).
Digital systems only ( < 2x2 Mbps)
Block cleared band i.e. no individual national frequency coordinations
BT P-P links and offshore transhorizon services.
no new licences (PP or Transhorizon);
All BT P-P links are to be offloaded by end of 2001; but shutdown
programme ahead of schedule.
Transhorizon: (licensed by BT on shore) and oil operator
(offshore). Numbers of legacy systems reducing, with time currently 4-5 in number.
Date:
Meeting:
28th March 2001
FLCC
Frequency
Band
4 GHz:
3600 – 4200 MHz.







U6:
6425 – 7125 MHz
14 GHz:
14250 - 14500MHz






15 GHz:
15230 15350 MHz
18 GHz:
17700 19700 MHz
106749902
FLCC (01-01) / 010
Issues

L6 GHz:
5925 – 6425 MHz
Document Reference:
Working Paper No:





Fixed links and FSS ( se) and Tele 2 ( FWA) use (former BT
band)
Limited numbers of PP assignments / licensing of PP links
FSS– Fixed links co-ordinations are currently being carried out
‘manually’, causing delays in licensing process. This process is
due to be ‘automated’ with the FiLSM-SECOM Interface,
planned later.
Certain organisations (and countries) are looking to enable
Earth Stations on Board Vessels (ESV) in the band. Issue is
protection to existing (FS and FSS) services. This will be
considered in WRC 2002 (i.e. a new MSS allocation)
Formerly BT exclusive band
Fixed link assignments / licences available to other operators
by beginning April 2001.
FSS – Fixed Link co-ordinations will be initially carried out
‘manually’ until the FiLSM – SECOM interface enables its
‘automation’. Hence licensing process, in this band, will initially
entail some delays.
Certain organisations (and countries) are looking to enable
Earth Stations on Board Vessels (ESV) in the band. Issue is
protection to existing (FS and FSS) services. This will be
considered in WRC 2002 (i.e. a new MSS allocation)
Management of band is in process of reverting to RA.
Assignments / Licences to other users expected by mid 2001.
Currently used for fixed links as an adjunct to the 13 GHz band.
Future policy: cease new licences as of March 2002 to coincide
with the availability of the 15 GHz band to all fixed links users.
Certain organisations (and countries) are looking to enable
Earth Stations on Board Vessels (ESV) in the band. Issue is
protection to existing (FS and FSS) services. This will be
considered in WRC 2002 (i.e. a new MSS allocation; in the
band 1400 – 14250 MHz, where there is no FS allocation, it
may be possible to facilitate ESV. RA is currently considering
this.
Also, possible Aeronautical maritime use. Industry views being
sought
Currently exclusively allocated to Cable +Wireless (CW).
Future policy: take back into RA management by March 2002.
Currently exclusively allocated to BT.
RA and BT discussing parameters for link length policy in the
band
Management of band currently planned for RA take-back in
2003; however, bilateral discussions are ongoing on wider
access
Date:
Meeting:
28th March 2001
FLCC
Frequency
Band
26 GHz:
24500-26500 MHz
28GHz:
27500-29500MHz









50 GHz:
48.5 – 50.2 GHz





52 GHz:
51.4 – 52.6 GHz
55 GHz:
55.78 – 57.0 GHz
106749902
FLCC (01-01) / 010
Issues

32 GHz:
31.8 – 33.4 GHz
Document Reference:
Working Paper No:




Relatively new band for fixed links; high demand
CW have returned 4 of their original 8 x 56 MHz channel
allocation back, well ahead of schedule, to RA.
ERC have soft segmented the band into 3 segments: FS
‘exclusive’, FSS ‘exclusive’, and conditional.
BFWA auctions in FS ‘exclusive’ segment.
Some BT legacy fixed links in band
No current plans to enable fixed link in band; emphasis on
facilitating access to 32 GHz.
Potentially very useful band for UMTS Infrastructure (to
complement existing bands)
Internal study carried out to explore pros and cons of realising
UMTS infrastructure in PP and PMP configuration. Summary of
findings to be published in FLCC.
FTSLU plan to submit a paper to RA’s internal Spectrum Policy
Committee(SPC), at next meeting in June 2001, proposing use
for fixed links
Final RA decision currently anticipated by end of 2001.
Current CW band
Frequency Assignment Criteria has been completed
Management of band will revert to RA in Summer 2001
Potentially very useful for interconnection of picocells
Also, some scope for infrastructure via PMP configuration –
industry inputs, as to usefulness, required
Frequency Assignment Criteria has been completed
Assignment / licensing planned for later in 2001
Frequency Assignment Criteria has been completed
Assignment / licensing planned for later in 2001