Image: RNT Foundation
What’s New: The UK is offering licenses, or at least a license, to broadcast eLoran.
Why It’s Important: The UK has resolved to include eLoran as part of its PNT resilience efforts. Having a process for companies to get a broadcast license shows that:
- The government is moving ahead smartly with its plans.
- The plans include having a commercial entity provide eLoran signals, presumably under contract to the government.
What Else to Know:
- The announcement by the UK spectrum agency, Ofcom, also included comments it received in response to its request for information in May of this year.
- Significant changes from the scheme it proposed in May include:
- A five year notice if a license is to be revoked
- An increase in the maximum transmitter power allowed from 400kW to 1MW
- Early this month the US Department of Transportation issued a Request For Information about companies interested in providing eLoran similar to the one issued in the UK in May.
Statement: Spectrum access for Enhanced Long-Range Navigation (eLoran) systems at 90-110 kHz
- Start: 19 May 2023
- Status: Statement published
- End: 14 July 2023
Having carefully considered all responses to the consultation we have decided to proceed with our proposals to introduce a new licence product authorising eLoran in the 90-110 kHz spectrum band.
Taking account of consultation responses and our own further considerations, we have made two changes to the licence conditions we proposed in the May 2023 consultation:
- Increased the notice period for licence revocation to 5 years. The licences will be issued for an indefinite period, and may only be revoked on spectrum management grounds subject to a minimum of five years notice. This is an increase from the three years notice period proposed in the May 2023 consultation and is to provide greater certainty of tenure for investors and operators.
- Increased the maximum EIRP permitted from any single transmitter to 1 MW (60 dBW).This represents a 4 dB increase from the maximum EIRP of 400 kW proposed in the May 2023 consultation and will allow the eLoran signals to be received in hard-to-reach areas such as in tunnels and deep inside buildings.
Main documents
Statement: Spectrum access for Enhanced Long-Range Navigation (eLoran) systems at 90-110 kHz
Consultation: Spectrum access for Enhanced Long-Range Navigation (eLoran) systems at 90-110 kHz
Responses
| Responder name | Type |
|---|---|
| Chronos Technology Ltd (PDF File, 96.3 KB) | Organisation |
| General Lighthouse Authorities (PDF File, 235.9 KB) | Organisation |
| Hellen Systems (PDF File, 150.1 KB) | Organisation |
| Hoptroff Smart Timing (PDF File, 152.7 KB) | Organisation |
| Howe, T (PDF File, 149.3 KB) | Individual |
LINK TO OFCOM WEB PAGE
