FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

Discussion: Clearly the imposition of spectrum charging will be unwelcome to a
community already struggling to profit from air traffic operations. However, there may be
opportunities for commercial users to fund other users. For example, the use of spectrum
for commercial and passenger data has huge potential and it is possible that the costs of
employing more spectrally efficient solutions could be offset by making the freed up
spectrum available to commercial uses.
Note that any proposal to introduce spectrum trading will be difficult if aeronautical
regulators are worried about safety of life issues. The adoption of new technology would
need to be coordinated to free up usable spectrum. This suggests that the best solution
might be to have a central body managing the upgrade and selling the spectrum.
Individual licensees would have to entrust their “property rights” to the central body, which
some may be unwilling to do.
Recommendation 5.6: Ofcom, working with the CAA, should ensure that solutions
considered for future data link technology are beneficial when viewed from 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.
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