§ Mr. Richard Pageasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the consultative document on radio frequency bands I and III will be published.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe consultative document was published on 23 May. Copies may be obtained from the Library.
At the beginning of 1985 the radio spectrum in bands I and III will become available for use by land mobile services. These services have in the past suffered from a severe shortage of radio spectrum. The very large number of radio channels that will now become available will permit increased competition in the provision of mobile radio and substantial expansion by those companies that are successful.
The Government wish to take account of the views of all those with an interest in the mobile radio industry concerning the services to be established in bands I and III. There are to be discussions with the appropriate representative bodies shortly and we hope that all comments will be submitted by the end of July.