The next meeting of the CEPT WRC-19 Conference Preparatory Group takes place 17-21 June in Prague

France has submitted a paper with the subject Agenda Item 10 revised proposal for an agenda item for new non-safety aeronautical mobile applications.

Concerns have been raised recently by IARU Region 1 about potential threats to the amateur radio 144 MHz and higher bands

Activity levels in 144 MHz and the higher bands have plummeted in the past 20 years. Increasingly we are seeing commercial interests seeking to gain access to what some might regard as "little used" amateur spectrum.

Several countries have already adopted an Entry Level Licence requiring some 7 hours training (roughly half that required for 2019 UK Foundation), the results have been encouraging. The entire course and a straight-forward 20 question 30 minute test could be completed in a single day instead of the two full days plus one evening typically required for UK Foundation courses.

Ofcom has announced revised proposals to help defragment the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, following next year’s auction of 3.6-3.8 GHz spectrum

The 3.4-3.8 GHz band is one of the primary bands for 5G in Europe. In the UK, companies currently hold blocks of spectrum in different parts of the band. This means that unless they trade their current holdings, the band is likely to remain fragmented after the forthcoming spectrum auction.

5G is likely to perform best using large, contiguous blocks of spectrum. So after considering responses to our December consultation on the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz auction, we have set out revised proposals for measures to help defragment these airwaves.