The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are making 978 MHz available for airborne transmission onboard uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) from today, 11 March 2025.
This move will enable the use of additional safety equipment (Universal Access Transceiver or UAT) to make other aircraft aware of their position. “This change supports longer distance operations, such as going beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), and is part of a wider Government Future Of Flight action plan and the CAA’s Airspace Modernisation strategy,” the CAA said in a joint statement. Use of the 978 MHz frequencies for UAT is standardised internationally, and Ofcom’s licence includes a reference to the relevant CAA document (CAP 1391).
“The frequencies used at 978 MHz are part of an aeronautical navigation band that is currently shared with low power radio microphones used for programme making and special events (PMSE),” the statement noted. “The sharing arrangements were introduced in Ofcom’s 2016 Statement on New Spectrum for Audio PMSE. That Statement made it clear that, as the aeronautical use changes, we will update the availability of PMSE spectrum, in a way that maintains aeronautical safety, via agreement with the CAA.”
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