FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

million . A digital or dual mode alternative, especially if the market size is small, could be
2 to 4 times larger.
6.13 UHF Communications (GSM and IMT-2000)
The GSM system around 900 MHz and to a lesser degree GSM 1800 operating at 1.8
GHz are increasingly used by the maritime community as a substitute for maritime VHF
public correspondence. This together with the increasing use of satellite personal
communications systems has contributed to the closure of all maritime VHF coast stations
previously open for public correspondence in the United Kingdom. This is likewise true for
other European countries. The advantage of GSM is obvious; it offers a high-quality
automatic service available in coastal in-shore areas as well as on land, whereas the
setting-up of a maritime VHF public correspondence call is a cumbersome manual
process via the coast station. Since 900 MHz GSM is somewhat higher than conventional
VHF maritime frequencies, GSM coverage in coastal waters is rather less than maritime
VHF channels.
IMT-2000 is now being implemented and may eventually replace GSM 900 and GSM
1800. In order to maintain the present attractiveness of GSM for the maritime community,
it would help maritime areas (similarly to rural areas) if the IMT-2000 system were to be
engineered to also operate in the 900 MHz band as well as in its current 2 GHz and
eventually 2.5 GHz expanded allocation.
As well as providing service in European coastal waters such a development would also
provide a cost effective means of providing GSM service in rural land areas.
From the allocation point of view the 900 MHz band is also available for IMT-2000. Radio
Regulation No. 5.317A stipulates that administrations wishing to implement IMT-2000
may use those parts of the band 806-960 MHz which are allocated to the mobile service
on a primary basis and are used or planned to be used for mobile systems.
Resolution 224 (WRC-2000) on frequency bands for the terrestrial component of IMT-
2000 below 1 GHz requests administrations which are implementing or planning to
implement IMT-2000, to consider the use of bands below 1 GHz and the possibility of
evolution of first- and second-generation mobile systems to IMT-2000, in the frequency
band identified in No. 5.317A, based on market demand and other national
considerations. An important consideration is the requirement to provide coverage in
coastal waters for the benefit of the maritime community.
GSM equipment and also IMT-2000 equipment is extremely low in cost and therefore also
extremely attractive for the maritime community as opposed to specialised maritime
equipment where due to the rather small number of units produced economies of scale
can only be achieved in a very limited manner.
The equipment shall comply with the R&TTE Directive.
Recommendation 6.9: The GSM system at 900 MHz is increasingly used by the
maritime community as a substitute for maritime VHF public correspondence. IMT-2000 is
now being implemented. In the long term, it will likely replace GSM 900. In order to
maintain the obvious advantages of public mobile telecommunication systems for the
maritime community, it will be of particular importance that IMT-2000 in coastal areas
should be available in the 900 MHz band. This is because the 2 GHz band, whilst
particularly suited for areas on land with high traffic densities and thus small cells, will
have an off shore range that is inadequate for serving the maritime community effectively.
It is therefore recommended that frequencies at 900 MHz should be made available for
the implementation of IMT-2000 in coastal areas, when GSM is planned for
decommission.
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