FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

internationally for decommissioning and to assist NATS in varying the terms of its licence
if required to remove barriers to decommissioning. Assistance may be required to GA
users if the VOR network is decommissioned. Ofcom should work with the CAA to
encourage the decommissioning of VOR navaids and re-use of the spectrum for
communication purposes. (Note that this is also covered in recommendation 3.21)
1.2.3.3 Long term measures
Recommendation 5.5: It is important to determine a strategy for the long term transfer to
data. This includes establishing plans for:
• technology choice
• clearing out of VHF spectrum
Ofcom to work with CAA to ensure plans are put in place for a) the movement of voice to
data and b) the gradual clearout and re-utilisation of the VHF spectrum
Recommendation 5.6: Ofcom, working with the CAA, should ensure that solutions
considered for future data link technology are beneficial when viewed in terms of
spectrum utilisation and that no longer utilised spectrum is freed up where possible. There
is consensus that aviation requires a new data link for future needs from 2012/2015+. The
long term technology choice needs to consider:
• the potential for low cost satellite based services, possibly shared with
commercial uses
• the potential for an optimised system utilising the VHF spectrum.
The satellite route offers the possibility of sharing services with commercial users
providing a possible route to lower cost. It seems preferable that aviation should avoid
implementing a bespoke system.
Use of a VHF system has the advantage of using spectrum dedicated solely to aviation
use and providing a terrestrial system under the control of the aeronautical industry. The
introduction of a new system will require a concerted effort to clear out existing use of the
band.
In all likelihood a dual strategy will be pursued with new systems operating both in the
VHF and L bands. Ofcom needs to ensure that its own views on spectrum utilisation feed
directly into the planning process in order that spectrum efficient solutions emerge.
Recommendation 5.7: Ofcom should also investigate the possibility of applying in cooperation
with the Ministry of Defence, the principles of recommendation 5.1 to the airground-air
bands in the range 230 – 380 MHz, with a view to initiating a reduction in airground-air
bands, ideally within NATO, Europe or as a minimum within the UK.
1.2.4 Maritime Radiocommunications
Recommendation 6.1: If a frequency solution for Short Range Devices (SRDs)
based on globally available ISM bands does not meet all maritime requirements, the next
best alternative would be to harmonise solutions capable of being implemented on a
regional basis. In this regard it may be appropriate to specifically identify SRD bands
appropriate for maritime applications in CEPT Recommendation T/R 70-03. It is
recommended that such a course of action might be considered by the UK in WG FM of
CEPT ECC (See Section 6.2).
Recommendation 6.2: Section 6.3 and sections 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7 have indicated a
possibility for new technology or change of use within the foreseeable future. However
either option would benefit from a European market and harmonised frequency bands to
ease co-ordination difficulties and provide economies of scale for industry. It is therefore
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