FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

• 415-526.5 kHz (primary or co-primary): main use is for MF telegraphy, but also
NBDP;
• sub-bands between 1606.5-3800 kHz (primary or co-primary): main use is for MF
telephony, but also NBDP and DSC.
A detailed break-down of the frequency sub-bands for coast and ship stations and
intership use, for single-sideband radiotelephony, NBDB and DSC is given in Article 52 of
the Radio Regulations.
The following bands were planned (assignment planning) at the Regional Administrative
Conference for the Planning of the MF Maritime Mobile and Aeronautical Radionavigation
Services (Region 1). Geneva, 1985:
• 415-435 kHz, 435-495 kHz and 505-526.5 kHz for the maritime mobile service
for Morse telegraphy and NBDP;
• 1606.5-1625 kHz, 1635-1800 kHz and 2045-2160 kHz for the maritime mobile
service for SSB telephony and NBDP;
• 415-435 kHz and 510-526.5 kHz for the aeronautical radionavigation service
(radiobeacons).
The frequencies used for distress and safety communications in the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) are:
• 490, 518, 2174.5, 2182 and 2187.5 kHz; details on their use are specified in
Appendix 15 to the Radio Regulations.
The frequencies used for non-GMDSS distress and safety communications are:
• 500, 518 and 2182 kHz; details on their use are specified in Appendix 13 to the
Radio Regulations.
From a United Kingdom perspective there is no congestion in the MF bands used for
commercial traffic (see also Section 6.6.3).
6.6.2 Technology Description
The following technologies are utilised in the MF maritime bands:
• Morse telegraphy, class of emission A1A;
• narrow-band direct printing (e.g. NAVTEX), class of emission F1B or J2B;
• digital selective calling (DSC), class of emission F1B or J2B.
• single-sideband telephony, class of emission J3E, simplex and duplex operation;
The technology used ranges from techniques which date back to the start of
radiocommunications, such as Morse telegraphy, to more advanced digital systems, for
example DSC and NBDP. Due to the international character of the service, progress in
implementing more modern techniques on a worldwide basis is a slow process.
Technical characteristics of the equipment can be found in Recommendation ITU-R
M.476 for NBDP (incorporated by reference in the ITU Radio Regulations), in
Recommendation ITU-R M.493 for DSC, in Recommendation ITU-R M.540 for NAVTEX
equipment and in Recommendation ITU-R M.1173 for SSB transmitters (incorporated by
reference in the RR).
Due to the international character of the service, agreed operational procedures have to
be observed. In addition to those contained in Chapter VII and IX of the Radio
Regulations, relevant requirements can be found in Recommendation ITU-R M.492 for
NBDP (incorporated by reference in the Radio Regulations), in Recommendation ITU-R
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