FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

Parameter Value Notes
Frequency availability
(allocation status)
Dependencies None known
Yes Access to L-band spectrum for AMS(R)S is
guaranteed under a Radio Regulation Footnote.
The possibility of sharing arrangements within the
MSS is still under discussion in ITU.
Table 5- 7 Characteristics of SDLS
Hence frequencies are available but would need
to be shared by other uses i.e. existing Inmarsat
AMSS
5.8.3 Broadband systems
Third Generation Mobile Communications (3G) has been developed by the
telecommunications industry to support broadband personal mobile communications. 3G
uses the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) protocols and Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Within 3G there are two proposed systems – WCDMA
and CDMA2000. EUROCONTROL are actively developing the aviation use of 3G systems.
This work has included simulations, bench tests and successful flight trials.
The availability of the high bandwidth enables a variety of content to be transmitted,
including voice, multimedia, internet and other sources of data. Additionally, 3G systems
are intended to be highly compatible, offering services such as worldwide roaming.
3G is an exciting technology which has the potential for offering a terrestrial broadband
solution to aviation users, with the cost advantage of VHF solutions, and the bandwidth of
satcom solutions.
There are good reasons for adopting 3G/CDMA for aviation use:
• It can provide a high-throughput data, voice, and video communication link
available over continental airspace;
• It has the potential of supporting a wide range of services including ATS, AOC,
AAC and APC;
• It will be compatible with the future satellite services, so that a seamless 3G
service over continental and oceanic airspace will be possible;
• The 3G technology is already developed and standardised and available in a
mass market – therefore aviation standardisation should be very rapid, and
system component costs will be low and experienced engineers widely available.
There are different frequency bands in which the system could operate – the VHF
(aeronautical band), 1 GHz, and 5 GHz are currently all being considered. The 1 GHz
band has not yet been used in the prototype equipment.
The throughput achieved to-date at 5 GHz with 5 MHz bandwidth is 1.5 Mbits per second.
The system can accommodate both ATN and IP. Transmission delay is in the region of a
few milliseconds.
EUROCONTROL has simulated and performed flight trials with the Time Division Duplex
(TDD) system. With the TDD system, the range is about 25 km. If using TDD, the system
is limited to a range of 25 km at the nominal throughput - greater range is possible but
only at the expense of throughput.
Simulation and bench tests have been done for Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), with
trials planned in the near future. With FDD, using either WCDMA or CDMA2000, range is
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