Strategy

1. Providing a positive influence on the UK position in international spectrum forums:

• • we worked with Government and Ofcom to promote UK positions to secure international agreements that enable the UK to capitalise on the value of spectrum.
  • we initiated and enabled multi-sector discussions on a wide range of WRC-23 agenda items, including AI 1.5, 1.17 or AI 10 working with Ofcom and industry on WRC-23, WRC-27 and future WRC issues.
  • we published two reports (7-24 GHz opportunities for 6G & Future Utilisation of 470-694 MHz band in the UK) which contributed and fed into WRC discussions.
  • we frequently engaged and interacted with ITU and other regional preparatory, such as groups CEPT, CITEL or EU’s RSPG.

2. Being an effective advocate for spectrum users with Government to ensure that spectrum remains high on their agenda:

• • we published the Market Mechanisms Review – noted by the DSIT Wireless Infrastructure Strategy
  • SPF Chairs David Meyer followed by Abhaya Sumanasena acted as advocates for spectrum users with government and Ofcom

3. Progressing our other longer-term goals:

• • at a request of Government, we formed a Cluster 3-led Forum to act as neutral information hub on spectrum sharing.
  • we published 7-24 GHz opportunities for 6G, a report on the potential usable spectrum for 6G networks in that range
  • we published & Future Utilisation of 470-694 MHz band in the UK, exploring and identifying four post-2030 scenarios for the use of UHF band
  • we held seminars on a wide range of topics (such as direct satellite-to-cellular connectivity), exploring new developments and technologies as well as their spectrum implications

During 2021/22 we will focus on:

1. Providing a positive influence on the UK position in international spectrum forums:

   • working with Government and Ofcom to promote UK positions to secure international agreements that enable the UK to capitalise on the value of spectrum.
   • working with Ofcom and industry on WRC-23, WRC-27 and future WRC issues

2. Being an effective advocate for spectrum users with Government to ensure that spectrum remains high on their agenda:

   • advocating the role of spectrum in addressing the big challenges facing society in the next 10-15 years, including examining the implications for vertical policy interests such as transport and telemedicine
   • advising on the consequences for spectrum users of adopting specific policies, for example with respect to the future of different mobile technologies

3. Progressing our other longer-term goals:

   • exploring the opportunities for using the millimetre wave bands for IMT and other applications
   • developing ‘protocols’ for transmission and receiver equipment which support more efficient use of spectrum
   • promoting flexible spectrum access methods, including considering when authorisation mechanisms should provide for exclusive use
   • exploring 6G spectrum policy issues

1. Providing a positive influence on the UK position in international spectrum forums

• working with Government and Ofcom to promote UK positions to secure international agreements that enable the UK to capitalise on the value of spectrum.
• exploring ideas for improving the WRC process and starting work
• working with Ofcom and industry on WRC-23 and WRC-31

2. Being an effective advocate for spectrum users with Government to ensure that spectrum remains high on their agenda:

• advocating the role of spectrum in addressing the big challenges facing society in the next 10-15 years, including examining the implications for vertical policy interests such as transport telemedicine
• advising on the consequences for spectrum users of adopting specific policies, for example with respect to the future of different mobile technologies

3. Progressing our other longer-term goals:

• exploring the opportunities for using the millimetre wave bands for IMT and other applications
• developing ‘protocols’ for transmission and receiver equipment which support more efficient use of spectrum
• promoting flexible spectrum access methods, including considering when authorisation mechanisms should provide for exclusive use

1. Providing a positive influence on the UK position in international spectrum forums:

   • working with Government and Ofcom to secure international agreements that enable the UK to capitalise on the value of spectrum.
   • Exploring ideas for improving the WRC process

2. Being an effective advocate for spectrum users with Government to ensure that spectrum remains high on their agenda:

   • advocating the role of spectrum in addressing the big challenges facing society in the next 10-15 years, including examining the implications for vertical policy interests such as transport and telemedicine
   • advising on the consequences for spectrum users of adopting specific policies, for example with respect to the future of different mobile technologies

3. Progressing our other longer-term goals:

   • exploring the opportunities for using the millimetre wave bands for IMT and other applications,
   • developing ‘protocols’ for transmission and receiver equipment which support more efficient use of spectrum.
   • Promoting flexible spectrum access methods, including considering when authorisation mechanisms should provide for exclusive use

1. Providing a positive influence on the UK position within the EU and ITU:

   • We held workshops on key WRC-19 agenda items, particularly as they affect IMT, and future agenda items
   • To prepare for WRC-23 we published a study by LS Telcom on the technical options for future use of the upper UHF frequencies

2. Effective advocate for spectrum users with Government:

   • We published an updated report on demand for spectrum from key sectors
   • We published a report advising government on the importance to spectrum users of meaningful evaluation of spectrum use, and making recommendations for an updating of the evaluation published in 2012

3. Progressing our long-term goals for spectrum use:

   • We published a paper by Qinetiq on resilience with ‘best practice’ guidelines for all businesses reliant on spectrum

1. Providing a positive influence on the UK position within the EU and ITU:

   • We provided advice to Ofcom and DCMS on key WRC-19 agenda items, including publishing an update of our 5G spectrum report focussing on 26 GHz, and holding a workshop on High Altitude Platform Systems
   • To prepare for WRC-23 we commissioned a study from LS Telcom on the technical options for future use of the upper UHF frequencies

2. Effective advocate for spectrum users with Government:

   • We have developed our relationship with Government and Ofcom, through our Cluster workshops and welcoming Philip Marnick, Group Director of Spectrum at Ofcom, to a Q&A briefing with the Steering Board.

3. Progressing our long-term goals for spectrum use:

   • We published a report on Flexible Spectrum Access Methods by Plum Consulting with recommendations for liberating value from spectrum use by deploying a greater variety of licensing mechanisms.
   • We published a paper by Qinetiq on resilience and initiated work on ‘best practice’ guidelines for all businesses reliant on spectrum
   • We held workshops on the future use of millimetre wave bands, increasing access to public sector spectrum bands, and improving efficient use of spectrum through equipment design.

1. Providing a positive influence on the UK position within the EU and ITU:

   • we have supported Ofcom and DCMS in their preparations for WRC-19 Agenda Items 1.13 (Spectrum for IMT) and 1.16 (5GHz RLAN) by developing positions/advice, most notably in the publication of SPF documents on 5G spectrum and on the 5GHz band
   • We provided early advice on the implications of Brexit on Spectrum Management for the UK, including release of an SPF commissioned study on the matter.
   • We ran workshops to help gather industry views for DCMS on spectrum aspects of the European Commission’s proposed new European Electronics Communication Code (EECC).

2. Being an effective advocate for spectrum users with Government to ensure that spectrum remains high on their agenda:

   • We supported the spectrum clauses in the Digital Economy Bill and have built on our relationship with Government and Ofcom, with specific acknowledgement in the 5G Action Plan and some good engagement with Ofcom via our Cluster workshops.

3. Progressing our longer-term goals:

   • We ran workshops to support the release of more public sector spectrum for private sector use, working in particular with MoD, - these helped us to make progress in teasing out potential demand for different frequencies and applications, and to develop further proposals for sharing frequencies.
   • We held workshops on the future use of millimetre wave bands and on resilience to stimulate new approaches and opportunities for creating value.

We brought new members on board and have improved our financial position to ensure that resources are available to deliver on our forward work programme for 2017/18.

1. providing a positive influence on the UK position within the EU and ITU:

   • we worked with Ofcom and DCMS develop meaningful agenda items for WRC19
   • we have initiated a multi-sector discussion on future use of the UHF band to support the WRC23 agenda item
   • we promoted industry responses on the spectrum aspects of the European Commission’s questionnaire on changes to the legislative framework in order to promote the Digital Single Market

2. Engaging new Government ministers to ensure spectrum remains high on their agenda, and potential changes to the legislative framework are fit-for-purpose:

   • we published UK Spectrum Usage and Demand – noted by Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, when speaking at the launch of the report as the first time that all sectors of industry had published their forecasts and so enabled the key pinch points to be identified
   • SPF Chairs Jim Norton followed by David Meyer acted as advocates for spectrum users with the Minister, welcomed his love of spectrum and challenged him to promote the ability of spectrum users to generate economic and social value
   • Tony Lavender, chair of Cluster 3, reflected on SPF member views as a member of the Panel of Experts who published their advice to Government on Incorporating Social Value into Spectrum Allocation Decisions

3. Progress long-term goals on spectrum

   • We published Licensed Shared Access, a report on the potential for releasing value by licensing access to frequencies controlled by the public sector
   • We published Future Use of Licence Exempt Radio Spectrum, a report with recommendations to promote international coordination on licence exempt bands and to promote improved receiver performance to support co-existence
   • We held seminars on the future use of millimetre wave bands and on resilience to stimulate new approaches and opportunities for creating value

The full 2015/16 strategy document is available to download here:

150521_SPECTRUM_POLICY_FORUM_strategy_2015-16_Confirmed_2.pdf