Statement and consultation: Increasing use of the 27.5 – 30 GHz band

We are proposing to make more 28 GHz spectrum available for use by satellite services to meet the growing satellite connectivity sector in the UK and fixed links.

In our decision and further proposals on increasing satellite and fixed link use of the 27.5-30 GHz band we:

• set out our decision, following consultation, to make 560 MHz more spectrum available for use by earth station gateways, which are large dishes on the ground that connect a satellite network to the internet;
• propose to introduce a new mechanism to enable satellite gateway access to the whole band, subject to consultation processes to avoid material impacts on incumbent Spectrum Access licensees;
• propose to enable some additional spectrum access for satellite land terminals – the dishes and antennas used by customers to connect to a satellite network – and fixed links; and
• seek views on demand for unused 28 GHz spectrum blocks in London and Northern Ireland.

We are inviting feedback on the proposals by 31 May 2024, and plan to publish our decision later this year.

Update - 20 August 2024

Following consideration of the consultation responses received and as part of our consultation process, we have written to a number of satellite operators to seek additional information on their consultation responses to our March 2024 consultation, in relation to how land-based satellite user terminals might operate in the Ka band in future. We are hopeful that this will further inform our consideration of the issues raised. We provide a link to this letter below.

Letter: Current and future use of satellite terminals in 28GHz (PDF, 168KB)

Any other stakeholders are also welcome to provide info by 5pm on Tuesday 17 September. Please send responses to 28GHz@ofcom.org.uk.

Please note that we have asked questions related to fixed links use of 28 GHz spectrum in our consultation on 32 GHz.