FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

3.4.11 Conclusions and Recommendations
3.4.11.1 Summary of Developments
Navaid Development Impact on spectrum Comment
En-route Loran-C No civil aviation
Possible freeing of Note that maritime and
regulatory support. EC (relatively small) others use Loran-C as a
and EUROCONTROL spectrum for alternate primary navigation aid. Any
do not foresee a role for users (or further spectrum reallocations
Loran-C in the future allocations on a should take into account
navaid mix. ICAO
secondary non- the non-aviation
recommends retention of
allocation for RNS, but
allows secondary users
on a non-interfering basis.
interfering basis). requirements.
NDB
VOR
Introduction of Eurofix for
GNSS augmentation.
Decommissioning of NDB
as part of shift to RNAV
environment in Europe
(based on DME and
GNSS).
Decommissioning (in the
UK) is dependent on GA
take-up of alternate
navigation means (most
likely GNSS-based
solutions).
Strategy for European
application of RNP-RNAV
calls for decommissioning
of VORs Europe-wide.
Pressure on VHF
spectrum from
communications
applications.
DME Full DME coverage
planned Europe-wide for
RNP-RNAV operations.
Freeing of
aeronautical NDB
spectrum for re-use by
alternate services
(e.g. maritime mobile,
maritime
radionavigation,
broadcasting).
A slow-down in
reallocation
opportunities would
result.
In medium-term,
reallocation of VHF
band to
communications
services (data and
possibly voice).
As VORs are deemed
surplus to
requirements in the
medium-term, there
may be a strong
political lobby to free
the spectrum for
communications use
Increasing demand on
L-band.
Very limited aviation use.
Radiobeacons may still be
in use for non-aviation
purposes (e.g. oil platform
locators, military uses,
maritime locators). Studies
on the scale of these
diverse applications are
required before spectrum
reallocation. Note that
ICAO policy calls for
international allocation of
ARNS for use by NDBs
until at least 2020.
Ofcom to stimulate GA’s
uptake of GPS (through
CAA).
Any decision must be coordinated
at a regional level
– neighbouring States must
be consulted. Therefore,
Ofcom should lobby
EUROCONTROL / ICAO
to put in place the
necessary processes for
change.
Possible clearing of lower
DME frequencies.
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