Ofcom Selects CRFSOfcom Selects CRFS

CRFS to undertake first ever UK-wide radio spectrum monitoring for Ofcom

June 26, 2008

1 Min Read

CAMBRIDGE, U.K. -- CRFS (Cambridge Radio Frequency Services), a developer and manufacturer of innovative real-time spectral analysis tools, has been selected by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, to undertake one of the most detailed spectrum mapping projects ever conducted in the UK.

The project will enable Ofcom to begin to build a detailed picture of radio spectrum use - worth £37bn or 3% of UK GDP - in key frequency bands (100MHz to 5GHz) across the UK.

CRFS will use its purpose-built andtechnically-advanced RFeye(tm) real-time spectrum monitoring system to gather the radio spectrum data. The raw data will be collected by a small fleet of car-mounted RFeye nodes over a number of months to further populate the CRFS UK-wide spectrum utilisation database. Phase one is scheduled for completion by 31 December 2008.

CRFS will also provide sophisticated data analysis tools as part of the project and will host an industry day to get feedback from other stakeholders - mobile phone operators, broadcasters, wireless broadband providers, government agencies etc. - ahead of developing a business case for the continued deployment of the spectrum monitoring system.

Gary Clemo, R&D manager at Ofcom, said: "Ofcom's objective is to promote the most efficient use of the UK's valuable spectrum resource, benefiting consumers by providing access to new services, greater choice and competition. However, it is difficult to be sure that we are optimising the use of the spectrum without information on its usage and quality in different parts of the country and across different frequency bands. Information from the CRFS system should help us with our plans to introduce market mechanisms in spectrum management and in releasing the commercial value of spectrum in the future."

Ofcom

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