Summary of submissions

A summary of submissions report setting out the responses to last year’s consultation on the use of digital land mobile radio technology in the 800 MHz TS band is now available.

There was a high degree of consensus between the 12 submissions received, with all respondents agreeing that digital technologies should be introduced into the 813.00 MHz - 819.00 MHz / 858.00 MHz - 864.00 MHz trunked dispatch TS band.

The summary of submissions report also sets out the government’s decisions arising from the consultation, with the following proposals to be implemented in the second quarter of 2008:

• to permit digital emissions in the 800MHz TS band;
• digital services will share the band with existing analogue services and with the same engineering parameters;
• adopt a generic standard in addition to the TETRA & APCO P25 standards whilst also ensuring co-existence in the band with incumbent analogue systems;
• the current 25 kHz channelling and 45 MHz duplex arrangement for new digital services be retained with a provision for 12.5 kHz separation.
• the current allocation rules be applied to digital technologies in the 800 MHz simplex TX band.

Top 

Digital Trunked Land Mobile Radio in the 800MHz Band

Summary of Submissions | December 2007

First published in December 2007 by the Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning Group, Energy and Communications Branch, Ministry of Economic Development, P O Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand.

Disclaimer

Executive summary

Glossary

Introduction

Submissions

Analysis of submissions

Summary of responses

Next steps

Appendix A

Appendix B

Disclaimer

The opinions contained in this document are those of the Ministry of Economic Development and do not reflect official government policy. Readers are advised to seek specific legal advice from a qualified professional person before undertaking any action in reliance on the contents of this publication. The contents of this discussion paper must not be construed as legal advice. The Ministry does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise for any action taken as a result of reading, or reliance placed on the Ministry because of having read, any part, or all, of the information in this discussion paper or for any error, inadequacy, deficiency, flaw in or omission from the discussion paper.

 Top

Executive summary

In May 2007, The Ministry of Economic Development (The Ministry) published an Engineering Discussion Paper on Digital Trunked Land Mobile in the 800 MHz Band. The paper sought the views of industry on the use of digital land mobile radio technology. This paper summarises the submissions received and identifies the proposed steps to be taken next.

The discussion paper was issued to the public by publishing it on the Ministry’s website, and notifying interested parties through the MED Business Update newsletters and emails to known interested parties. The Ministry received 12 submissions from a range of interest groups including existing and potential service providers, equipment suppliers, a cellular operator and the Emergency Telecommunications Services Steering Group (ETSSG) Working Group 3.

There was a high degree of consensus in the submissions with all respondents agreeing that digital technologies should be introduced into the 813.00MHz - 819.00MHz / 858.00MHz - 864.00MHz Trunked dispatch TS band (TS Band), to enable a number of enhanced services of inherent economic benefit, including data and short message services, tracking, privacy and security.

As a result of this consultation the Ministry proposes that:

• operational policy be changed to permit digital technologies and emissions in the 800MHz TS band;
• new digital services will share the band with existing analogue services;
• a generic standard and such popular open standards as TETRA and APCO P25 be considered for co-existence in the band with incumbent analogue systems;
• the current 25 kHz channelling and 45 MHz duplex arrangement for new digital services be retained with a provision for 12.5 kHz separation. with any demand for higher bandwidth channels requiring separation greater than 25 kHz being considered at a later date;
• the current analogue engineering parameters be applied to new digital services;
• the current allocation rules be applied to digital technologies in the 800 MHz simplex TX band (these permit the assignment only of simplex licences in the TX band to existing TS band trunked license holders for the extension of coverage and service).

The Ministry will continue to monitor international and domestic developments in the digital trunked land mobile radio market and will take action where appropriate.

 Top

Glossary

1. Introduction

In May 2007, the Ministry of Economic Development (“the Ministry”) published an Engineering Discussion Paper on Digital Trunked Land Mobile in the 800 MHz Band [205kB PDF]. Industry and other stakeholders were invited to comment on the use of land mobile radio technology in the 800MHz TS band including the choice of standards, channel plans, engineering criteria and other interrelated issues.

This paper summarises the submissions received and outlines the proposed steps to be taken next.

Before digital radio technology can be introduced it is necessary to determine the level of demand and the engineering criteria required for it’s operation. This paper finds there is increasing recognition that digital trunked land mobile radio services are the future migratory path for existing analogue services. Digital trunked land mobile radio has the potential for contributing to New Zealand economic growth by providing more features and improved spectrum utility. The benefits include enhanced service quality and spectral efficiency, and such new features as data capability and encryption.

This initiative supports the government’s objective of adopting new digital technologies that will enable innovation in telecommunications and radio communications.

The Ministry released its May 2007 discussion paper to provide interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the introduction of digital trunked land mobile radio and to identify key engineering issues. The paper canvassed how best to manage the immediate demand for digital trunked land mobile in the 800MHz spectrum while recognising the evolving nature of technological standards.

The discussion paper posed ten questions.

• Should current operational policy be expanded to accommodate digital technologies and emissions in the 800 MHz TS band?
• If your organisation wished to introduce digital trunking technologies in the TS band which of the available standards would be favoured? If your organisation favours more than one standard please indicate the order of preference.
• Can the existing 25 kHz channel raster and 45 MHz duplex spacing be used for digital systems? If not, what is the preferred channel arrangement?
• Is there benefit in adopting a standard, that requires customised equipment manufacture to fit a national band plan e.g. TETRA in the TS band?
• If required, would the existing analogue engineering parameters (receiver sensitivity, wanted signal level under faded conditions, and adjacent channel protection ratio) and use of wanted signal to unwanted interference (C/I), or SINAD level of 12 dB in place of a bit error rate of 10-2, be suitable for engineering the co-existence of analogue and digital links?
• Would the introduction of licensing arrangements to allow land mobile systems using digital technologies into the TS band be beneficial to your business? What would be the key benefits introduced by these new technologies?
• How may the MED balance the evolving nature of digital standards and technologies with the technical efficiencies of prescribing specific standards for the TS band?
• In the context of digital land mobile radio in the 800/900 MHz range, are there any other issues you would like to raise?

The submissions and other inputs received by the Ministry have helped to identify the magnitude of current demand for digital LMR services and the steps required to cater for it.

 Top

2. Submissions

The paper was published on the Ministry’s website, and publicised through MED business updates newsletter and emails it to known interested parties.  The Ministry received 12 submissions from a range of interested groups.  These were

• Service providers | 8
• Equipment suppliers | 2
• Public safety service | 1
• Other interest groups | 1

3. Analysis of submissions

3.1 Digital Trunked Land Mobile in the 800 MHz Band

Comment in submissions

Ten submissions were received in response to this question, all of which were in favour of the current operational policy¹ being expanded to allow digital technologies in the 800 MHz TS band. Some of the respondents expressed the following opinions:

• Analogue land mobile radio equipment is going to become less available with the growing demand for digital technologies;
• Advances in technology should not be limited or repressed;
• Digital technologies provide enhanced spectral efficiency and enhanced features.

Response

Submissions strongly supported this initiative in their responses and comments. There is a clear demand for the change, with ten respondents in agreement that the current operational policy should be expanded to accommodate digital technologies in the 800MHz TS band.

Top

3.2 Interleaved digital and analogue

Comment in submissions

Comment was made in ten submissions on this question. All of the respondents favoured the interleaving of digital and analogue services rather than band segmentation. In addition the following opinions were expressed.

• Interleaved analogue and digital services have been proven in Australia; Motorola noted that “This approach has been proven in Australia where Motorola operates both analogue and digital systems on interleaved channels. As users are migrated from our analogue Smartnet system to our digital ZEON system we are able to switch channels from analogue to digital use with a minimum of fuss.”
• The success of interleaved analogue and digital services has been proven internationally and is being used in other Asia-Pacific countries.
• A band segmentation approach would have an economic impact on band users in the form of channel changes and re-equipping to conform;

While nine of the respondents strongly supported the interleaved approach, one raised concern about analogue services and site management. Comment was made that care needs to be taken to ensure that interference is not caused to existing analogue systems. The respondent points to US experience where digital IDEN systems could not be co-sited with analogue services.

Response

There is a high degree of consensus that: the advantages of interleaving outweigh a band segmentation approach. Interleaving allows for more efficient channel use and easier migration from analogue to digital ; interleaving means that current spectrum users do not have to make channel changes as they may have to with a segmented approach ;

It is noted that there are relative spectrum efficiencies to be gained from a band segmentation approach. Segmentation means that maximum advantage can be taken of the improved ability for digital technologies to use adjacent channels.

In Australia digital and analogue equipment operates satisfactorily in the same band. Investigations show that the band in Australia is dominated by one licensee (Motorola) which has introduced a public TETRA network to replace its current proprietary analogue system. Motorola is managing the engineering detail of this migration. The situation in New Zealand is more complex with 12 existing analogue licensees using the band. Suitable engineering rules will be required to ensure that new digital and existing analogue services do not suffer or cause harmful interference.

The Ministry acknowledges the concerns about the protection of existing analogue services and that issues may arise with co-sited digital and analogue systems. However the Ministry considers that most site management and site engineering issues are best managed by the site manager. The site manager is in a better position than the regulator or external engineer to minimise the potential for digital and analogue incompatibility arising from site specific issues. This may be through any number of technical / engineering solutions such as channel spacing, antenna design, filter deign, or restrict services to analogue only. It is considered unduly restrictive to TS band users for the Ministry to regulate site management and engineering.

There is a clear demand from industry to adopt an interleaved channel plan for the sharing of digital and analogue land mobile services. This is supported by the Ministry’s own analysis of the relative benefits of interleaving and band segmentation.

Top

3.3 Standards

Comment in submissions

There were ten responses to this question, which were divided in their preference for a generic or open standard. There was no support among the ten respondents for the adoption of a propriety standard. Some respondents stated initially that their preference was for an open standard but later made comments indicating that they were tending towards a generic standard. Some of the opinions expressed were as follows.

• “There should be no limitations between standards.”
• Open standards ensure vendor competition which fosters price and feature benefits.
• Customer should be able to make a decision on technology based on their needs.
• Generic standards are technology agnostic.

Response

There is clearly no demand for adopting a propriety standard. However there was a mixed demand from the respondents for open or generic standards. To satisfy industry it would appear that the best solution would be to adopt a generic standard that encapsulated the current popular open standards.

There was some preference from the submitters that the MED create a technology neutral environment. The Ministry recognises that, the fewer limitations are placed on technology and standards, the greater the competition and choice for operators and consumers. However MED does not believe that it is possible to make a generic standard that is completely technology neutral. There must be a balance between flexibility and constraints to ensure that services can co-exist within acceptable limits of interference, that incumbent services are protected and that there is good channel re-use and efficiency.

Currently there is a joint Australia New Zealand generic standard for digital land mobile radio. The standard is AS/NZS 4768.1:2006 Digital radio equipment operating in land mobile and fixed services bands in the frequency range 29.7 MHz to 1 GHz. Not all of the popular open standards conform to the generic AS/NZS 4768.1:2006

There is clear demand for open or generic standards. The Ministry’s analysis shows that to satisfy the demand of industry the generic the AS/NZS standard 4768.1:2006 should be adopted. Any of the popular open standards that do not conform to AS/NZS 4768.1:2006 may also be accommodated.

Top

3.4 Which standard

Comment in submissions

There were ten responses to this question. Five of the respondent’s specified preferred technologies while the other five had no preference.

Some of the comments made by the respondents are as follows.

• Both TETRA and P25 are extensively used in other countries around the world;
• There are currently 88 countries around the world using TETRA; 
• P25 has been adopted as the standard of choice by public safety agencies in New Zealand; 
• The Ministry should allow maximum freedom in the band and allow it to be customer and demand driven.

Response

The popular technologies emerging from the submissions were TETRA and APCO P25. TETRA was the most preferred technology with 5 responses supporting it. Two of those 5 responses also mention APCO P25. Other technologies mentioned by one respondent were EDACS, Open Sky TDMA.

There is extensive use of TETRA and APCO P25 internationally. Both are open standards and allow manufactures to compete directly, driving the cost of products down

The MED acknowledges that a technology neutral environment will allow market forces to determine the preferred technology. It is in the Ministry’s interest to allow freedom in the band and create a flexible environment where demands and market forces determine the technology of choice. However, there must be a balance between flexibility and spectrum utility so that users get the most effective & efficient use from the band. There is a risk that a new technology could cause harmful interference to established services resulting in a loss of band utilisation and hence value. With regulation in the form of a defined standard and engineering rules such risks are minimised.

There is a demand for accommodation of the TETRA and APCO P25 open standards when constructing a standards regime for digital technologies and emissions in the 800MHz TS band.

Top

3.5 Preferred channel arrangement

Comment in submissions

All of the ten responses to this question stated that the current channel arrangement could be used for digital systems. Two of the respondents expressed a view that additional channel bandwidths should be provided for and would be beneficial.

Respondents strongly supported this approach. Some of the issues raised were:

• the system of choice should fit into the current 25 kHz channel with 45 MHz duplex;
• ‘off the shelf’ TETRA products support 25KHz channels with a 45MHz duplex;
• the 25kHz channel and 45MHz duplex is being used in Australia;
• using the existing 25kHz channel and 45MHz duplex arrangement allows an easy channel by channel transition from analogue to digital.

Two respondents raised the issue that the current 25kHz channel spacing is not optimal and there would be benefits in allowing other bandwidths. One respondent raised the following point:

• There is benefit in allowing an aggregation of channels and/or an overlaid channel plan to accommodate TETRA equipment that has wider channel spacing for higher speed data services.

Response

There was a consensus amongst the ten respondents that the existing 25 KHz channel raster and 45 MHz duplex spacing should be used for digital systems

The MED notes that the TETRA standard specifies channel bandwidths of 25kHz, 50kHz 100kHz and 150kHz and that there may be a need for an overlaying channel plan to accommodate these wider channels for higher data rates to maximise the use of TETRA. However most current TETRA applications are built around the 25kHz channel.

The Ministry recognises that APCO P25 specifies narrow channels of 12.5kHz to maximise spectral efficiency.

Currently the 800MHz TS band has an allocation plan where channels are allocated in defined blocks to simplify multiplexing channels onto a single antenna (Appendix B). An overlying channel plan that accommodates wider channel bandwidths would not fit the current channel block allocation plan. There is a considerable number of existing analogue services within the band and creating an overlying wider bandwidth channel plan could conflict with these services. However the current 25kHz channel plan could be easily subdivided into such narrower channel bandwidths as 12.5kHz and maintain the same channel block allocation plan.

As the market matures with analogue services migrating to digital, and the demand arises for wider channels, the Ministry could consider overlaying a channel plan allowing for wider channel bandwidths.

There is clear demand from industry for the current 25kHz channel spacing with the 45 MHz duplex to be adopted for digital services. The Ministry’s analysis supports this preference and suggests that current channel block allocation plan should be retained. An investigation is required into different channel bandwidths and how channels could be subdivided and/or amalgamated.

Top

3.6 Customised equipment

Comment in submissions

There were ten responses received to this question, all stating that a standard requiring custom equipment manufacture offers no advantage to users. In responses the following points were raised.

• Adopting a standard that requires custom equipment manufacture will increase equipment and compliance costs;
• New Zealand will struggle to meet the minimum numbers required for a manufacturer to produce custom equipment
• Uneconomical aftermarket modifications may be the only way to obtain customised equipment;
• Adopting a standard that requires custom equipment manufacture will be unduly restrictive in the future.

Response

There is no demand from industry to adopt a standard that requires custom equipment manufacture. A standard that requires custom manufacture is likely to be unduly restrictive and reduce the usefulness of the band for digital trunked land mobile.

Top

3.7 Engineering parameters

Comment in submissions

There were ten responses to this question with five of the respondents favouring the use of analogue engineering criteria for the engineering of digital services. The remainder of the respondents were either unsure or did not provide an answer to the question. One respondent stated that the 10^-2 BER was a suitable substitute for the analogue receiver sensitivity criteria.

Some of the points raised by the respondents are as follows.

• Analogue engineering parameters are used for engineering digital systems in Australia and have been proven successful.
• Internationally analogue engineering criteria is used for the engineering of digital services.
• In principle existing parameters for sensitivity, faded signal and adjacent channel protection may be used. Tait submitted that to be effective a C/I of 8-9 dB to achieve a Digital Audio Quality (DAQ) of 3.4 would be needed and so rather than working to a BER of 10-2 we use 2 x 10^-2 to give a DAQ of 3.4.

Response

The majority of the respondents were in favour of adopting analogue engineering criteria for the engineering of digital services.

Analogue engineering criteria are more favourable to digital services and easily allow balancing of signal levels on a shared analogue/digital site. One respondent has pointed out that for a good digital audio quality a C/I of 8-9dB is required. The analogue engineering criteria specify 12dB SINAD so it can be assumed that if they are applied to digital the result would be 3 – 4 dB more favourable.

There is a clear preference for existing analogue engineering parameters to be adopted and applied to new digital services using the band.

Top

3.8 Licensing arrangements

Comment in submissions

Eight of ten respondents agree that that allowing digital technologies in the 800MHz TS band would be beneficial to their business. Two of the responses stated that at this stage there was no benefit to their business but that things could quickly change due to customer requirements. Respondents listed the following benefits of digital technologies

• Data services
• Spectral efficiency
• Smaller equipment
• A type of Short Messaging Service
• GPS tracking services
• Quality voice
• Advanced security - encryption

Response

It is clear that allowing digital land mobile technology into the 800MHz TS band will be beneficial to business in New Zealand. Digital land mobile technologies provide many benefits to business not available with analogue based systems and have the potential to contribute to the economic growth of New Zealand.

Top

3.9 Evolution of digital standards

Comment in submissions

There were ten responses to this question. The comments were varied but some of the points that can be drawn from the respondents’ comments are the following:

• The Ministry should observe international trends and benchmark against defined standards;
• Standards should not be mandated and must be technology neutral and generic;
• Consider the cost of non standard specifications.

Response

It is noted that the Ministry observes the international scene, developments and industry demand. When a demand from industry arises the Ministry initiates a discussion to canvas the issues;

From the discussion paper on the 800 MHz TS band there is a clear demand for a generic standard. The Ministry notes this and will take appropriate steps;

MED acknowledges the responses in question 6, which clearly state that a non standard specification is not desirable. The Ministry has a policy of implementing internationally recognised standards where possible.

Top

3.10 Other issues

Comment in submissions

• There were 12 responses to this question. Some of the issues raised by the respondents were as follows.
• Consideration needs to be given to the effect of adjacent bands on the noise floor including cellular, GURL,- SRD and such potential future services as WiMax;
• The frequency range 470 MHz – 806 / 862 MHz has been identified as a candidate band for IMT advanced.
• A system of spectrum ownership should be adopted to ensure access is widely available.
• The provision of a simplex band is proposed in the event that mobiles are outside coverage, temporary use is required or users don’t require a full trunking network.
• Diagram A1 in the engineering discussion paper on the TS band is incorrect.
• Emergency services D band (ESD) must be taken fully into account when planning digital services in the TS band.

Response

The Ministry acknowledge the concerns about the noise floor and the effects that adjacent band may have on it. The Ministry has initiated a study on the noise floor in New Zealand and will be observing the results closely. The minimum protected level for land mobile services is -106 dBm (at the antenna). Signals received below this level are considered to be below the noise floor and are not protected. Should a user experience an interfering signal above this level the Ministry can investigate and appropriate action may be taken.

The Ministry is aware of the candidate bands for IMT advanced and have taken them into consideration when proposing digital technologies in the 800 MHz TS band. Although the Ministry will consider the 2007 World Radio Conference (WRC) outcomes, in New Zealand there is still a strong demand for the land mobile services which is unlikely to weaken in the short term. At this stage it is envisaged that the 800 MHz TS band will have many more years of use for trunked land mobile radio.

The Ministry acknowledges the request for a system of spectrum ownership to ensure widely available access. A system of spectrum ownership exists under the management rights regime where spectrum is auctioned and sold to the highest bidder. The process is similar to the Torrens system for land. The system does not necessarily ensure that spectrum is widely available but is a way of determining who will get best use from the spectrum. Currently the system of allocation in the 800MHz TS band is under the administrative regime of radio licensing where any one user can apply for a licence. The system ensures that spectrum is widely available and is efficient at doing so until the spectrum is full. The Ministry is considering a “use it or loose it” policy to address some congestion issues. The Ministry has no intention of changing the spectrum to the management rights regime at this stage

The Ministry acknowledges the need for spectrum allocated to digital simplex to complement digital trunked systems in the TS band. Currently simplex channels are provided for in the band 868.1 to 869.025 MHz known as the TX band. The intent of the TX band is to provide a simplex service for existing TS band operators for services while mobiles are out of coverage of the network. The Ministry intends to change the operational policy on the TX band to align it with any new operational policy for the TS band and allow digital services. The Ministry sees that opening the TX band to general users that do not require a full trunking network would be detrimental to the band. There are a limited number of channels and allocation is on a shared basis. As the TX band is the only 800MHz simplex band it is likely that the band would be swamped with general digital simplex users and the band will loose it’s value for the provision of extending coverage for trunked network operators.

Diagram A1 in the original discussion document shows the TETRA transmitter mask under extremes of temperature and supply voltage. These conditions were not made clear in the document.

The Ministry acknowledge that there needs to be compatibility between the Emergency Services D band (ESD) and the 800 MHz TS band. The Ministry will take appropriate steps to ensure there is compatibility.

The submitters have raised some issues which will be taken into consideration when planning for digital services in the 800MHz TS band.

Top

4. Summary of responses

4.1 Digital in the 800 MHz band

After considering the submissions to the discussion paper and international developments, the Ministry note that there is strong support for a change in the operational policy to allow digital technologies and emissions into the 800MHz band.

There is a preference for new digital services to be interleaved with the existing analogue services. The information available indicates that interleaving analogue and digital is compatible and more economical to band users than a segmented approach.

4.2 Standards and technology

All respondents advocate generic or open standards allowing flexibility and competition for equipment supply. There is no demand for a single propriety standard or a standard that requires custom equipment manufacture. The popular standards that have emerged from the responses are TETRA and APCO P25.

4.3 Preferred channel arrangement and engineering parameters

There is a clear consensus among respondents that the current channel arrangement with 25kHz channels and 45MHz duplex is optimal for new digital technologies.

Some respondents expressed interest in subdivision and / or aggregation of channels to accommodate higher speed data and better spectrum efficiency. An overlaying channel plan that accommodates wider channel bandwidths would not fit in with the current channel block allocation plan. A considerable number of analogue services exist within the band and creating an overlaying wider bandwidth channel plan could cause conflict with these services. There is scope for narrower bandwidth channels to be considered

The majority of respondents advocate that the current engineering parameters used for analogue should be applied to digital technologies in the band.

Top

4.4 Benefits of new technology

The majority of respondents see directly how digital technologies will benefit their business and consumer. Allowance of digital in the 800MHz band is an important step forward to enable such features as:

• data services
• spectral efficiency
• smaller (more compact?) equipment
• a type of Short Messaging Service
• GPS tracking services
• quality voice
• advanced security - encryption

4.5 Other issues and evolving standards

A variety of other issues were raised and there were some comments on evolving standards.

Some of the other issues raised where on the subjects of:

• the affects of adjacent bands on the noise floor of the 800 MHz band;
  
• the provision of a digital simplex service in the 800MHz band; 
• consideration of the IMT Advanced candidate bands and the 2007 WRC outcomes;
•  taking into account the Emergency services D band when planning the TS band.

 Top

5. Next steps

5.1 Digital in the 800 MHz band

• Change the licensing policy in PIB38 to permit digital services in the 800 MHz trunked dispatch TS band.
• New digital services should share the band with existing analogue services;

5.2 Standards and technology

• Adopt a generic standard for the use of digital technologies. The standard will cover technologies that can co-exist in the band with the incumbent analogue systems;
• Consider adopting a combination of generic and open standards so that there is flexibility for new technology along with allowance for current popular open standards available in the market.

5.3 Preferred channel arrangement and engineering parameters

• Retain the current 25 kHz channelling and 45 MHz duplex arrangement for new digital services. Provision may be added for a subdivided channel plan for 12.5 kHz bandwidth. Channels requiring a separation greater than 25kHz may be considered at a later date;
• Current analogue engineering rules and parameters to apply to any new digital services;

5.4 Benefits of new technology

The Ministry acknowledges that there are many benefits from new digital technology and will take these benefits into consideration when considering change in operational policy.

Top

5.5 Other issues and evolving standards

The Ministry will take the following actions to address the issues raised by the respondents

• Analyse the results returned from the current noise floor study and continue to monitor these;
• Allow digital technologies and emissions in the 868.1 to 869.025 MHz TX simplex band. Current allocation rules where channels will only be allocated to trunking operators in TS band as an extension of service shall apply.
• The Ministry is aware and will consider the candidate bands for IMT advanced when constructing operation policy to allow digital technologies in the 800 MHz TS band. At this stage The Ministry envisage that the 800 MHz TS band will have many more years of use for trunked land mobile radio purposes
• Any future planning of the TS band will take into account the adjacent Emergency Services D band (ESD).

Appendix A | List of organisations who provided submissions

Top

Appendix B | 800MHz TS Band Channel Blocks

¹ The current operational policy for the TS band limits the issuing of radio licences to analogur trunked land mobile systems.