The Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for Satellite Receive-Only Earth Stations) (Amendment) Order 2015

Statutory Instruments

2015 No. 1398

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for Satellite Receive-Only Earth Stations) (Amendment) Order 2015

Made

18th June 2015

Coming into force

10th July 2015

The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 29(1) to (3) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006(1) (the “Act”).

Before making the Order OFCOM have given notice of their proposal to do so in accordance with section 122(4)(a) of the Act, published notice of their proposal in accordance with section 122(4)(b) of the Act and have considered the representations made to them before the time specified in the notice in accordance with section 122(4)(c) of the Act.

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for Satellite Receive-Only Earth Stations) (Amendment) Order 2015 and shall come into force on 10th July 2015.

Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for Satellite Receive-Only Earth Stations) Order 2011

2.  The Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for Satellite Receive-Only Earth Stations) Order 2011(2) (the “principal Order”) shall be amended in accordance with the following articles.

Amendments to article 2

3.  In article 2 of the principal Order—

(a) before paragraph (a), insert—

“(a) “earth exploration satellite service” means a radio communications service between a satellite in space and a fixed wireless telegraphy station on the ground used for earth observation purposes;”

(b) renumber the existing paragraph (a) as (b) and omit “and” at the end of that paragraph;

(c) renumber the existing paragraph (b) as (c), for the full stop at the end of that paragraph substitute a semi-colon and insert “and”; and

(d) after paragraph (c) as so renumbered, insert—

“(d) “space research service” means a radio communications service between a spacecraft, or any other object in space, and a fixed wireless telegraphy station on the ground used for scientific or technological research purposes.”.

Amendment to article 3

4.  In article 3(3)(b) of the principal Order—

(a) at the end of sub-paragraph (b)(i), omit “or”;

(b) at the end of sub-paragraph (b)(ii), for “and” substitute “or”; and

(c) after sub-paragraph (b)(ii), insert—

“(iii) within the frequency band listed in Schedule 3 to provide either an earth exploration satellite service or a space research service; and”.

Amendment to Schedule 2

5.  In Schedule 2 to the principal Order, for “7750–7850 Megahertz” substitute “7750–7900 Megahertz”.

Insertion of Schedule 3

6.  After Schedule 2 to the principal Order, insert the following Schedule 3—

Article 3

“SCHEDULE 3 Frequency band for earth exploration satellite services or space research services

Frequency band
25.5–26.5 Gigahertz”

Philip Marnick

Group Director, Spectrum Group of the Office of Communications

For and by the authority of the Office of Communications

18th June 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for Satellite Receive-Only Earth Stations) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2757), which specifies the frequencies for which the Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) will grant recognised spectrum access.

This Order adds certain frequency bands.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this Order will have on the costs to business is available to the public from OFCOM’s website at http://www.ofcom.org.uk or from the OFCOM Library at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA. Copies of this assessment have also been placed in the library of the House of Commons.

(1)

2006 c.36.

(2)

S.I. 2011/2757.