FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

Parameter Value Notes
Bit rate 5-10 Mbps uplink
Channel access method
Frequency availability
(allocation status)
16 kbps – 1.5 Mbps
downlink
Frequency usage
currently granted in
US, Canada, UK, &
Germany.
Dependencies Availability of Ku
transponders on board
satellite.
Table 5- 10 Characteristics of Boeing Connexion
Frequency usage needs to be granted by the
country where the service is intended to be
operated.
The service is totally under the control of Boeing
5.9.3 Other sharing issues for further consideration
A lot of aviation traffic, especially GA, takes place only during the day, either due to
restrictions on visibility or limitations in the times over which airports can operate (no
flights are allowed in or out of Heathrow overnight for example). It is therefore possible
that if a suitable sharer could be identified, some of the aeronautical communications
channels could be re-used for other purposes at night.
5.10 Possible Overall Spectrum Efficiency Improvements
The possible measures for improved spectrum efficiency identified in this section are
summarised in Table 5-11 below.
Development Impact on Spectrum Comment
Operational requirements
Increased airspace capacity through new
operational concepts including
automation, conflict free trajectories and
increased delegation to pilot rather than
through systemisation
Regulatory
Decommission VOR and make more
VHF spectrum available for
communication
Optimisation of current analogue voice services
Encourage move to 8.33 kHz channel
spacing
Introduction of UHF 8.33 kHz spacing in
NATO band
Optimisation of services using current digital links
Potential for a reduction in
demand on VHF spectrum
through a reduction in the
number of air traffic control
sectors
More efficient use of existing
spectrum (i.e. decommission
of increasingly redundant
system and replacement with a
useful system)
Significant reduction in need
for spectrum since current
channelisation is divided into
three
Potential for releasing
spectrum for other applications
Some early gains through initial
automation but wholescale
concept change needed from
(2012+)
Possible barriers include the
terms of NATS operating licence
and the need to maintain support
for VOR operations
At high altitude requires
completion of RICE infrastructure
and a solution for large sectors
At low altitude requires GA
equipage
Costs an issue but if backwards
compatibility ensured may speed
up introduction
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