WHAT IS THE GIBRALTAR FREQUENCY ALLOCATION TABLE?

1. Introduction to the Gibraltar Frequency Allocation Table

1.1. The following definitions have been adopted from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulation (RR).

1.2. In all documents of the Union where the terms allocation, allotment and assignment are to be used, they shall have the meaning given them as follows.

1.3. Allocation (of a frequency band): Entry in the Table of Frequency Allocations of a given frequency band for the purpose of its use by one or more terrestrial or space radiocommunication services or the radio astronomy service under specified conditions. This term shall also be applied to the frequency band concerned.

1.4. Allotment (of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel): Entry of a designated frequency channel in an agreed plan, adopted by a competent conference, for use by one or more administrations for a terrestrial or space radiocommunication service in one or more identified countries or geographical areas and under specified conditions.

1.5. Assignment (of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel): Authorisation given by an administration for a radio station to use a radio frequency or radio frequency channel under specified conditions.

1.6. The column containing the allocation to services may include a reference number, which reflects the international use of this band or services. This reference number is directly related to the footnotes to the International Table of Frequency Allocation in the ITU Radio Regulations. The text of a reference number included in the Table concerns the provision of services to Gibraltar and are found in Annex G.

1.7. Frequencies for the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Service have been agreed by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar, for use by the amateur service within Gibraltar are listed in Annex A.

1.8. To improve the harmonisation of national regulations the European Union (EU) and the Council of European Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) agreed Directives and Decisions with a view to harmonise the necessary national regulatory provisions to support the introduction of the pan-European telecommunication services. The texts approved by the European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC) and it's Working Groups are shown below.

1.9. The text approved by the ERC and it's Working Groups are divided into:

1.9.1. ERC Decision

1.9.1.1. New ERC Decisions finally adopted and published

1.9.1.2. New ERC Decisions finally adopted but not yet published

1.9.1.3. New ERC Decisions provisionally approved for public consultation

1.9.2. ERC Recommendations

1.9.3. ERC Reports

1.9.4. Application Forms and Report Forms

1.9.5. Allotment Plans for introduction of Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting (T-DAB) in Europe

1.10. ERC Decisions, Recommendations and European Telecommunications Standards are described below:

1.10.1. An ERC Decision is the normal outcome of any decision making process on matters of significant harmonisation in the radiocommunications regulatory field

1.10.1.1. Having adopted a draft ERC Decision it is distributed for public consultation with a deadline for comments of at least 2 months

1.10.1.2. Subsequently the ERC reconsiders the draft ERC Decision based on the comments received and a final text is decided by the Committee where possible by consensus

1.10.1.3. Within a period of 2 months the CEPT members indicate their intention to implement the Decision and the measures taken for the national implementation

1.10.2. The ERC has finally adopted and published the decisions listed in Annex B. Those decisions adopted by Gibraltar are annotated in the right hand column of Annex B

1.11. An ERC Recommendation is the outcome of a consultation process on matters of harmonisation in the radiocommunications field. Administrations are encouraged to apply them, though adoption is on a voluntary basis

1.11.1. ERC Recommendations considered and adopted by a Working Group are circulated to all CEPT Administrations for comments within 4-6 weeks. If no comments are received the Recommendation is adopted. Otherwise the ERC is expected to decide on the approval of the draft Recommendation, preferably by consensus

1.11.2. The CEPT/ERC Recommendations are listed in Annex C. Those decisions adopted by Gibraltar are annotated in the right hand column of Annex C

1.12. European Technical Standards Institute (ETSI), is the technical base for regulation reports. Test Report Forms developed and approved by Working Group RR after consultation of the relevant ETSI sub-technical committee are listed in Annex D. Those Reports adopted by Gibraltar are annotated in the right hand column of Annex D

1.13. The list of relevant United Kingdom equipment specifications (MPT's and RA's) are shown in Annex E. The equipment specification adopted by Gibraltar are annotated in the right hand column of Annex E

2. Assignment and Use of Frequencies

2.1. It is a general principle that the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority will endeavour to limit the number of frequencies and the spectrum used to the minimum essential to provide in a satisfactory manner the necessary services. To that end the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority will encourage operators to apply the latest technical advances as soon as possible

2.2. The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority will take all necessary precautions in assigning frequencies to stations which are capable of causing harmful interference to the services rendered by the stations of another country, such assignment are to be made in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations and other provisions pertaining to the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union

2.3. Any new assignment or any change of frequency or basic characteristic of an existing assignment shall be made in such a way as to avoid causing harmful interference to services rendered by stations using frequencies assigned in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations and the other provisions of the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, the characteristics of which are recorded in the Master International Frequency Register of the International Telecommunication Union

2.4. The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority will endeavour not to assign to a station any frequency in derogation of either the Table of Frequency Allocations or the other provisions of the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, except on the express condition that such a station shall not cause harmful interference to, and shall not claim protection from harmful interference caused by, a station operating in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the Convention and the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union

2.5. The frequency assigned to a station of a given service shall be separated from the limits of the band allocated to this service in such a way that, taking account of the frequency band assigned to a station, no harmful interference is caused to services to which frequency bands immediately adjoining are allocated

2.6. No provision in the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union prevents the use by a station in distress, or by a station providing assistance to it, of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to attract attention, make known the condition and location of the station in distress, and obtain or provide assistance

2.7. The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority recognises that the safety aspects of radionavigation and other safety services require special measures to ensure their freedom from harmful interference; it is necessary therefore to take this factor into account in the assignment and use of frequencies

2.8. The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority recognises that among frequencies which have long-distance propagation characteristics, those in the bands between 5 MHz and 30 MHz are particularly useful for long-distance communications; to reduce requirements for frequencies in these bands the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority will encourage operators to use, wherever practicable, any other possible means of communication

2.9. When special circumstances make it indispensable to do so, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority may, as an exception to the normal method of working authorised by the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, have recourse to the special methods of working enumerated below, on the sole condition that the characteristics of the stations still conform to those inserted in the Master International Frequency Register of the International Telecommunication Union

2.9.1. a station in the fixed service or an earth station in the fixed-satellite service may, under the conditions defined in No. 3.3 transmit to mobile stations on its normal frequencies

2.9.2. a land station may communicate under the conditions defined in No. 3.3, with fixed stations in the fixed service or earth stations in the fixed-satellite service or other land stations of the same category

2.10. However, in circumstances involving the safety of life, or the safety of a ship or aircraft, a land station may communicate with fixed stations or land stations of another category

2.11. The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority may assign a frequency in a band allocated to the fixed service or allocated to the fixed-satellite service to a station authorised to transmit, unilaterally, from one specific fixed point to one or more specified fixed points provided that such transmissions are not intended to be received directly by the general public

2.12. Any mobile station using an emission which satisfies the frequency tolerance applicable to the coast station with which it is communicating may transmit on the same frequency as the coast station on condition that the latter requests such transmission and that no harmful interference is caused to other stations

2.13. In certain cases provided for in the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, aircraft stations are authorised to use frequencies in the bands allocated to the maritime mobile service for the purpose of communicating with stations of that service

2.14. Aircraft stations are authorised to use frequencies in the bands allocate to the maritime mobile-satellite service for the purpose of communicating, via the stations of that service, with the public telegraph and telephone networks

2.15. In exceptional cases, land mobile earth stations in the land mobile-satellite and aeronautical mobile-satellite services. Such operations shall comply with the relevant provisions of the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union relating to those services and shall be subject to agreement among administrations concerned, taking due account of 3.7

2.16. Any emission capable of causing harmful interference to distress, alarm, urgency or safety communications on the international distress and emergency frequencies established for this purpose by the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union is prohibited. Supplementary distress frequencies available on less than a worldwide basis should be afforded adequate protection

3. Categories of Services and Allocations

3.1. Primary and Secondary Services

3.2. Where, in a box of the Table, a band is indicated as allocated to more than one service, either on a worldwide or Regional basis, such services are listed in the following order

3.2.1. services, the names of which are printed in "capitals" (example: FIXED); these are called "primary" services

3.2.2. services, the names of which are printed in "normal characters"(example: Mobile); these are called "secondary services" (see No. 4.3)

3.2.3. Additional remarks shall be printed in normal characters (example: MOBILE except aeronautical mobile)

3.3. Stations of a secondary service

3.3.1. shall not cause harmful interference to stations of primary services to which frequencies are already assigned or to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date

3.3.2. cannot claim protection from harmful interference from stations of a primary service to which frequencies are already assigned or may be assigned at a later date

3.3.3. can claim protection, however, from harmful interference from stations of the same or other secondary service(s) to which the frequencies may be assigned at a later date

3.4. Where a band is indicated in a footnote of the Table as allocated to a service "on a secondary basis" in an area smaller than a Region, or in a particular country, this is a secondary service only in that area or country (see No. 4.3)

3.5. Where a band is indicated in a footnote of the Table as allocated to a service "on a primary basis" in an area smaller than a Region, or in a particular country, this is a primary service only in that area or country

3.6. Additional Allocation

3.6.1. Where a band is indicated in a footnote of the Table as "also allocated" to a service in an area smaller than a Region, or in particular country, this is an "additional" allocation, i.e. an allocation which is added in this area or in this country to services which are indicated in the Table (see No. 4.6.2.

3.6.2. If the footnote does not include any restriction on the service or services concerned apart from the restriction to operate only in a particular area or country, stations of this service or services shall equality of right to operate with stations of the other primary service or services indicated in the Table (see No. 4.6.3)

3.6.3. If restrictions are imposed on an additional allocation in addition to the restriction to operate only in a particular area or country, this is indicated in the footnote of the Table

3.7. Alternative Allocation

3.7.1. Where a band is indicated in a footnote of the Table as "allocated" to one or more services in an area smaller than a Region, or in a particular country, this is an "alternative" allocation, i.e. an allocation which replaces, in this area or country, the allocation indicated in the Table (see No. 4.7.2)

3.7.2. If the footnote does not include any restriction on stations of the service or services concerned, apart from the restriction to operate only in a particular area or country, these stations of such a service or services shall have an equality of right to operate with stations of the primary service or services, indicated in the Table, to which the band is allocated in other area or countries

3.7.3. If restrictions are imposed on stations of a service to which an alternative allocation is made, in addition to the restriction to operate only in a particular country or area, this is indicated in the footnote

3.8. Miscellaneous Provision

3.8.1. Where it is indicated in these Regulations that a service or stations in a service may operate in a specific frequency band subject to not causing harmful interference to another service or to another station in the same service, this means also that the service which is subject to not causing harmful interference cannot claim protection from harmful interference caused by the other service or other station in the same service

3.8.2. Where it is indicated in these Regulations that a service or stations in a service may operate in a specific frequency band subject to not claiming protection from another service or from another station in the same service, this means also that the service which is subject to not claiming protection shall not cause harmful interference to the other service or other station in the same service

3.8.3. Except if otherwise specified in a footnote, the term "fixed service", where appearing in the Table, does not include systems using ionospheric scatter propagation

4. Description of the Table of Frequency Allocations

4.1. The heading of the Table of Frequency Allocations includes three columns, each of which corresponds to one of the Regions. Where an allocation occupies the whole of the width of the Table or only one or two of the three columns, this is a worldwide allocation or a Regional allocation, respectively

4.2. The frequency band referred to in each allocation is indicated in the left hand top corner of the part of the Table concerned

4.3. Within each of the categories specified in No. 4.2.1. and No. 4.2.2. services are listed in alphabetical order according to the French language. The order of listing does not indicate relative priority within each category

4.4. In the case where there is a parenthetical addition to an allocation in the Table, that service allocation is restricted to the type of operation so indicated

4.5. The footnote references which appear in the Table below the allocated service or services apply to the whole of the allocation concerned

4.6. The footnote references which appear to the right of the name of a service are applicable to the particular service

4.7. In certain cases, the names of countries appearing in the footnotes have been simplified in order to shorten the text.