§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any proposals to specify technical standards for CT2 following the grant of licences to four consortia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthThe technical standards for CT2 have for the most part already been specified. Equipment has to satisfy the requirements of the standards BS6833 and MPT 1334. It is intended that by the end of next year the Telepoint operators will be obliged by conditions of their licences to install the common air interface in their base stations. Equipment using this interface will have to satisfy the standard MPT1375. A test specification schedule to this standard is in preparation. At some future time, after consulting the industry and taking advice from the Director General of Telecommunications, consideration will be given to the general adoption of the common air interface for Telepoint equipment. It is not expected that the adoption of this interface will be mandatory for CT2 equipment which is not capable of being used for Telepoint.