Ofcom Make Part of 1900MHz Band Available for 5G Mobile on UK’s Rail Network

As expected, Ofcom has today confirmed that they will make part of the 1900MHz radio spectrum band (1900-1920MHz), which had previously gone unused by mobile operators, available for use by both the UK’s rail network (5G / data services) and to extend coverage for the 4G Emergency Services Network (ESN).

Mobile operators do in fact make use of the 1900MHz band, just not the 20MHz slice of unpaired spectrum in question (i.e. they lacked an ecosystem for deploying higher-power services). In addition, the need for a guard band against paired spectrum (reducing an already limited pot of spectrum) and the limited bandwidth it offers were also seen as discouraging factors.

Suffice to say that, in March 2024, Ofcom ended up revoking existing licensees’ access to the band with 5 years’ notice, thereby enabling authorisation of new users from 4th April 2029. Instead, the regulator believes the “optimal use” of the first 1900–1910MHz spectrum in the future will be for the latest 5G mobile technology for rail networks: the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS).

On top of that, they’ve today decided that the “optimal use” of the next 1910–1915MHz slice in Great Britain will be for providing extended coverage for the Emergency Services Network (ESN), through the use of “gateways” installed on emergency vehicles such as ambulances. But Ofcom is NOT yet proposing to authorise any use in the final 1915–1920MHz part of the band, “primarily because of the power restrictions necessary to protect the mobile band above 1920MHz from interference, as well as uncertainty over demand for the spectrum“.

Ofcom’s Decision

Authorise 1900–1910 MHz for operational rail communications to enable the rollout of FRMCS throughout the UK. The new FRMCS licences will:

• Be restricted to the provision of operational rail communications.

• Contain technical conditions suitable for the deployment of FRMCS.

• Authorise a geographic area covering the applicant’s rail infrastructure, which would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

• Require technical coordination with other existing or future FRMCS licensees in overlapping or neighbouring geographic areas.

• Have an annual fee of £1,458,000 for a licence covering Great Britain, and £42,000 for a licence covering Northern Ireland. Licences for smaller rail networks would pay a smaller fee, scaled by the length of the rail routes covered.

• Come into effect on or after 4 April 2029.

• Be issued via a simple process, with checks on applicants’ ability to comply with key licence conditions.

Authorise 1910–1915 MHz to enable the use of Emergency Services Network (ESN) gateways in Great Britain. The licence will:

• Be restricted to the provision of ESN gateways by the provider(s) contracted by the UK Government to supply these gateways (currently BT/EE).

• Have a fixed duration, aligned with the contract to supply ESN gateways.

• Allow use throughout Great Britain.

• Contain technical conditions consistent with the requirements of the ESN.

• Have an annual fee of £364,500 for a licence covering Great Britain.

The commencement date for the ESN gateway licence is subject to a further consultation.

At present, we are not authorising use of 1910–1915 MHz in Northern Ireland where the emergency services have different communication arrangements to Great Britain.

We are also not authorising 1915–1920 MHz throughout the UK, primarily because of the power restrictions necessary to protect the mobile band above 1920 MHz from interference, combined with uncertainty over demand for the spectrum.

Despite the April 2029 date, Ofcom are now seeking views on whether or not they can allow access to the 1910–1915MHz spectrum for ESN Gateway use ahead of that date. Finally, FRMCS itself will support greater digitalisation of the UK’s railways by replacing existing 2G technology and “enabling trains, signalling and railway staff to be better connected than before, helping to improve the operation of the rail network“.