First IR2008 Licence Issued by Ofcom

Ofcom, the agency that formerly incorporated the Radio Communications Agency, has recently issued the first licence for a new pioneering technology, which is set to revolutionise the taxi market and furthermore other transport sectors. The IR2008 system allows more than one licensee to use a radio channel in the same geographical area. By allowing multiple small data licensees to share the same channel, the new IR2008 licence has the potential to answer the problems of congested Private Mobile Radio ('PMR') data channels in the UK. Barry Maxwell, Head of Field Operations (see right, picture below), Ofcom made the presentation of the first IR2008 licence to Ian Fennel (Managing Director) (see left, picture below) of Poulton Cabs based in Poulton, Lancashire on the 11th of February 2004.

The first system that meets this IR2008 radio/data protocol was designed by RS Micro based in Preston. They have developed a taxi system which features an advanced datahead called 'Delta' and a taximeter called 'Tango' that work with the Icom IC-F510 PMR Mobile transceiver. The raw data speed of the Delta datahead is 8 times faster than any other data head currently available so it therfore satisifes the demands of the IR2008 protocol by allowing more users onto a radio channel. An integrated GPS provides the potential for vehicle tracking. Delta can also be connected to a PDA allowing the driver to use applications such as Autoroute to plan their route

Ian Fennel, Director from Poulton Cabs Ltd, the firm to be awarded the first IR2008 licence said, ‘We needed to make more efficient use of our vehicle fleet. We have 30 cars, covering a 25 square mile area around Blackpool so we thought the best way forward was by using this new data/GPS technology so that we would get a more efficient use of our fleet.’

We have already seen improvements with this new technology with less ‘blanks’ (going to an address when there is nobody to pick up) and less wrong addresses. The data head in the car actually gives us more accurate information whereas with radio communication there was the chance that a message cannot be heard properly. The new data technology coupled with GPS tracking it is easier to be more precise about the location of our customers. With this technology we actually get the grid reference of our A-Z. In time we hope the give the drivers the facility to give them directions to a location. We hope this and other new functions will come on board over the next few months.’

Barry Maxwell, Head of Field Operations at Ofcom, ’we have been waiting for this technology to come on stream for quite a while. It is good to see this technology working. It is good for the customers; it is good for business and the management of the radio spectrum’. He added, ’Ofcom is committed to more efficient use of spectrum, and IR2008 typically represents a four fold increase in the efficient use of spectrum by granting as many as 4 licences on the same channel in the same area. This saving in spectrum use is passed onto the customer, where for a four slot licence the cost of a licence could be a quarter of the cost if they were to use a non-IR2008 licence for data services. I hope that this is the first of many IR-2008 systems.’

He went on to add, ‘Applications to benefit from this new technology and more available radio channels could include Real Time Passenger Information services (electronic bus stops) as well as data dispatch services (Taxis and Couriers).’

Icom UK Marketing - marketing@icomuk.co.uk

28/02/2004