Ofcom Statement & Consultation: Increasing use of the 27.5 – 30.0 GHz band - JRC Response
Ofcom Statement & Consultation: Increasing use of the 27.5 – 30.0 GHz band
1.0 Executive Summary
JRC welcome the opportunity to respond to this consultation on behalf of the UK Energy Network Operators and is pleased to note Ofcom’s proposal to enable Ofcom licensed fixed link access to the frequency range.
With the withdrawal of other fixed link bands, e.g. 1.4GHz and 26GHz, it is imperative that alternative options are enabled to address the increasing need for backhaul spectrum anticipated by the Energy Networks Operators as they seek to implement a pLTE based enhanced Operational Telecommunications capability.
2.0 Background – The Joint Radio Company (JRC, www.jrc.co.uk)
Joint Radio Company Ltd is a wholly owned joint venture between the UK electricity and gas industries specifically created to manage the radio spectrum allocations for these industries used to support operational, safety and emergency communications.
JRC manages blocks of VHF and UHF spectrum for Private Business Radio applications, telemetry & telecontrol services and network operations. JRC created and manages a national cellular plan for coordinating frequency assignments for several large radio networks in the UK.
The VHF and UHF frequency allocations managed by JRC support telecommunications networks to keep the electricity and gas industries in touch with their field engineers and remote assets. These networks provide comprehensive geographical coverage to support installation, maintenance, operation and repair of plant in all weather conditions on 24 hour/365 days per year basis.
JRC’s Scanning Telemetry Service is used by radio based Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks which control and monitor safety critical gas and electricity industry plant and equipment throughout the country. These networks provide resilient and reliable communications at all times to unmanned sites and plant in remote locations to maintain the integrity of the UK’s energy generation, transmission and distribution.
JRC also manages microwave fixed link and satellite licences on behalf of the utility sector.
JRC supports the European Utility Telecommunications Council’s Radio Spectrum Group, and participates in other global utility telecom organisations. JRC participates in European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) working groups developing new radio standards, and European telecommunications regulatory groups and workshops.
JRC works with the Energy Networks Association’s Future Energy Networks Groups assessing ICT implications of Smart Networks, Smart Grids & Smart Meters, is an active member of the Energy Networks Association Strategic Telecoms Group and is an acknowledged knowledge source for cybersecurity in respect of radio networks.
Fixed (Microwave) links have been utilised for many decades in order to provide backbone transmission capability to support existing, application specific networks such as SCADA, Scanning Telemetry and push to talk voice. Increasingly, as these multiple applications convene in the IP domain, increases in backhaul bandwidth requirements are essential. So too is the number of links required, as connectivity is required to push further and further towards the periphery of the energy networks. As noted in other dialogue with Ofcom, JRC & ENA-STG are striving to gain access to additional dedicated radio spectrum to allow the deployment of an LTE based smart grid connectivity FAN (Field Area Network) 1. The eventual deployment of such a network will require the introduction of more fixed links in order to provide backhaul from the RAN back to the core. The 28 GHz band could be an important connectivity tool in the fixed link area.
1 Call for Input: Potential spectrum bands to support utilities sector transformation https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/potential-spectrum-bands-to-support-utilities
3.0 Detailed Responses to Questions
Confidential? No.
No Comment.
Confidential? No.
No Comment.
Confidential? No.
No Comment.
Confidential? No.
Yes, we welcome Ofcom’s proposed approach to enable large bandwidth fixed links accessible via the standard Ofcom fixed links licensing process.
Confidential? No.
No comment.
Confidential? No.
Yes, JRC notes that an allocation for either terrestrial fixed link use OR satellite solutions is sensible. This perspective aligns with our response to the millimetre wave consultation2 where we have expressed concerns regarding the co-existence challenges between space and terrestrial systems in the same frequency bands.
Confidential? No.
Yes, JRC agree that the proposed approach maximises the potential for high capacity terrestrial fixed links whilst simultaneously facilitating enhanced spectrum access for the satellite community. The removal of the excessively large guard bands from the original channel raster is also to be commended. Deferral of decision on the nonaligned 112MHz is appropriate at this stage given the rapid pace of evolution in wireless connectivity technology – which could in the future be accommodated in the remaining 112MHz. To make a decision on the remaining 112 MHz at this point in time would be premature and likely result in that resource remaining unused.
Confidential? No.
In terms of the proposal to return a significant proportion of 28 GHz spectrum to the general ‘fixed links’ (OFW 85) process, JRC are supportive of this approach as it provides the most balanced access method to this valuable spectrum without unnecessarily sterilising the band for one particular service (which may prove unsuccessful, as was ultimately the case with the original 2000 awards for BFWA). The ability to access the spectrum on a link by link basis will be valuable to JRC members as their networks continue to expand (particularly with the prospect of backhaul use for a private LTE network).
Confidential? No.
JRC encourages Ofcom to authorise the frequencies for fixed links via the Ofcom managed spectrum license process in Northern Ireland and London.
Confidential? No.
No Comment.