Ofcom 2300 and 3400 MHz ham radio bands statement

Ofcom has published a statement on the amateur radio use of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz bands

Following a consultation last year, Ofcom has decided to remove from the Amateur Radio Licence all frequencies in these bands which overlap with those planned for award (2350 to 2390 and 3410 to 3475 MHz) , giving amateurs at least twelve months’ notice of this intention.

Ofcom has also decided to retain amateur access to the adjacent bands, and put in place a procedure to enable these frequencies to be removed from the Amateur Radio Licence if necessary in future.

Ofcom has been required by the Ministry of Defence to implement measures to ensure the MoD’s systems are adequately protected from interference from amateur uses in both the release and adjacent bands. Today’s statement therefore contains guidance from Ofcom with which amateur users must comply, with immediate effect, when using these frequencies.

Amateur users of the 2310 to 2350 MHz band are requested to register their use and provide contact details to Ofcom. Details are provided in today’s statement.

More information - http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/public-sector-spectrum-release/statement

146 MHz band extension for Thai radio hams

Radio amateurs in Thailand hope to get an extension of the VHF 2m band to 146.500 MHz. Basic entry licenses will also have access to 10m

The granting of 28.0 - 29.7 MHz to the basic entry license holders should significantly increase HF activity from the country.

In May 2012 Thailand had 246,959 radio amateurs holding the basic entry level VHF license and 717 Intermediate and Reciprocal HF license holders.

The reason for the low number of HF licence holders seems to be because it's impossible to sit an exam to upgrade. There appears to have only been one Intermediate exam for just 151 candidates held in almost 10 years - http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2012/thailand_holds_intermediate_exam.htm

On 20 March 2014 the Thai National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) released the responses from the public consultation on the new draft rules for amateur radio - http://tinyurl.com/pmc3s9p

Direct link to PDF - http://tinyurl.com/ptwdzbs

Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) - http://tinyurl.com/ThailandRAST

New frequencies for French radio hams

The minutes of the 7 March 2014 meeting between the French National Society - REF and the communications regulator ARCEP have been published

French radio amateurs have gained access to 472-479 kHz with 1 watt output in Region 1 and territories in Region 2. Discussions also covered the possibility of an amateur allocation across the whole of 1.8-2.0 MHz and possible future allocations at 5.5 MHz and 70 MHz.

435-438 MHz is now allocated to the Amateur-satellite service for both Earth-to-Space and Space-to-Earth in Region 1 & territories in Region 2. Due to a previous error in the national frequency table French amateurs did not have Space-to-Earth for this band in their license.

The 2400-2415 MHz band is now allocated to radio stations in the Amateur-satellite service in French territories in Region 2.

Regarding the 1.2 GHz band the REF wondered if the Galileo GPS satellites, which broadcast across 1260 to 1300 MHz, may call into question the allocation of this portion of the band to the Amateur Services. The ARCEP said they would review this matter and provide a response.

The REF report the ARCEP had shown an interest in the ARISS school contacts which have a high educational value.

Minutes of the meeting between ARCEP and REF March 7, 2014 in Google English - http://tinyurl.com/REF-ARCEP-Minutes-2014-03-07

REF in Google English - http://tinyurl.com/FranceREF