CAMBRIDGE, England--(Business Wire)--
CRFS (Cambridge Radio Frequency Services) (www.crfs.com), 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 GBP 37bn or 3% of UK GDP - in key
frequency bands (100MHz to 5GHz) across the UK.
CRFS will use its purpose-built and technically-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."
According to David Cleevely, chairman and co-founder of CRFS,
today's spectrum management systems rely mainly on rules of thumb and
theoretical modelling, which is a bit like driving a car with no
speedometer, milometer or fuel gauge. "Our RFeye system will enable
Ofcom and other spectrum managers, such as the MOD and mobile phone
operators, to fully exploit this valuable economic resource.
"Interference is one the biggest drains on the profitability of
mobile phone operators as it stops a large amount of calls from being
terminated," added David Cleevely. "With access to UK-wide spectrum
monitoring data, operators could tune their networks and save
literally millions of pounds each year. What's more, by providing this
in-depth knowledge of the spectrum environment, we believe that this
could unleash a new wave of communications innovation worth billions
of pounds in the UK alone."
RFeye is a distributed, GPS-based interference measurement system
that can survey radio spectrum. Each RFeye node is a robust, real-time
spectrum analyser, and in combination with contextual information and
backhaul provides a service beyond what is currently available or
achievable with existing equipment. Applications for RFeye include
frequency interference detection, spectrum usage database, license
enforcement, spectrum release and liberalisation, cell planning, RF
environment check and remote site monitoring.
Alistair Massarella, CEO of CRFS, said: "Our RFeye system is
significantly less expensive than existing specialised monitoring
systems and provides considerable improvement in quality and
functionality when compared to similar products. We are delighted to
be working in partnership with Ofcom on this project and believe that
our solution will be of interest to telecommunications regulators,
operators and equipment manufacturers the world over."
Professor Martin Cave, author of two UK Government reports on
spectrum management, said: "Radio spectrum is an asset of large and
growing importance, crucial to the success of many industries, such as
communications, which have a major bearing on the UK's future
prosperity. The CRFS system will provide Ofcom, and other government
agencies such as the MOD, who are the current gatekeepers of the
spectrum in the UK, with the opportunity to exploit this valuable
resource and to stimulate new and exciting market opportunities."
Photography to accompany this release is available at:
http://www.crfs.com/pr26jun08.html.
** CRFS and RFeye are trademarks or registered trademarks of CRFS
Limited.
CRFS
Martin Brooke, +44 (0) 1223 244500
martin@mba-pr.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
