Public Sector Conference Agenda

DAY - 1 Tuesday 21 April

* = confirmed speaker

9.00 – 9.30 am
Registration

9.30  – 10.15: am

Keynote address:

Jean-Yves Montfort, RSPG Public Use of Spectrum working group*

Chair: Martin Sims, PolicyTracker *

For several months the European regulators in the Radio Spectrum Policy Group have been drawing up a report examining best practice in the management of public sector spectrum. CEPT’s Electronic Communications Committee is also working on the harmonization of frequencies used for public protection and is collecting data on the overall spectrum demand for public safety services.

These presentations will outline the results of the work by both bodies. It will be followed by a question and answer session.

10.15 – 11.15 am  

Case studies: France, UK, Netherlands, Australia.

Several countries have recently reviewed their public sector spectrum policies with the aim of improving efficiency. In this session those closely involved in these initiatives will assess their achievements and look to future developments.
Moderator: Martin Sims, PolicyTracker *

Speakers:

• UK: Steve Jones. Ministry of Defence*
• Netherlands: Peter Anker of MinEZ *
• France: Jean-Yves Monfort, Deputy Director, ANFR *
• Australia: Phillipa Marks, PLUM Consulting*

11.15 – 11.30 Coffee break

11:30 - 12:45

Commercial possibilities

Governments may be willing to sell, trade or share some military spectrum, but is industry interested in exploiting it? This panel looks at potential – and existing – commercial uses.
Moderator: John Burns, Aegis Systems*

Speakers:

• Roger Horlock, Reading Metranet and BandSharing Forum*
• Brian Copsey, Association of Service Providers *
• Mike Parkins, BandSharing Forum*
• Susan Sweet, Director of Public Regulation, Mott MacDonald*
• Col. Tim Rimell, Defence Spectrum Management*
  

12:45 – 2:00 pm lunch 

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Keynote address: Professor Martin Cave, Warwick University *

Professor Cave prepared the ground for the liberalisation of public sector spectrum in the UK with his 2005 independent audit of the sector commissioned by the Treasury. In this session he will consider the best methods to encourage the efficient use of public sector spectrum in Europe as a whole.

20 min presentation, followed by 10 min Q and A

2:30 – 3.15 pm

Broadband networks for safety of life services

European public safety services say they need harmonised UHF spectrum for data and broadband services, and they want a slice of the digital switchover pie. This session looks at the state of public safety spectrum, what new uses may become possible, and whether governments have an obligation to make allocation of digital dividend spectrum a priority.
Moderator:  David Happy, Communications Management Association *

Speakers:

• Ken Carter, WiKConsult, co-author of recent report on public safety services in the digital dividend*
• Jeppe Jepsen, Director, Motorola and Chair of Spectrum Harmonization Initiative at PSC-Europe*
• Hans Borgonjen, Chairman of Public Safety Radio Communication Group, vts Police Netherlands*

3.15 – 3.30 pm Coffee break
 
3.30-4.45 pm

Legal and technical issues in accessing public sector spectrum

Sharing or acquiring public sector spectrum can be a complex process. In many countries public sector users don’t have licences so there may be a need to create a new legal instrument. The technical limitations can be many and varied: in Eastern Europe a lack of frequency harmonisation with its roots in the Soviet era continues to create problems. In all countries there is also the issue of whether it makes better sense to buy a traditional licence.
Moderator: Jason Wiltshire-Brown, Logica

Speakers:

• Colin Long, Olswang*
• John Burns, Aegis*
• Robindra Mangtani, Director, GSMA*
• Janette Dobson, Analysys Mason*
• David Cleevely, CRFS*

DAY 2 – Wednesday, 22 April

9.00– 9.30 am
Registration

9:30 – 10: 00 am

Keynote address: Peter Bakker, Ministry of Defence, Netherlands

Improving the efficiency of military spectrum is a key aspect of the public sector spectrum debate. In this session Peter Bakker will explain his country's perspective on spectrum liberalisation and consider how it can be combined with the need to preserve national security. He will also provide an insight into NATO's perspective on this issue.

10.00-11:15 am

Industry focus: transport

The transport sector increasingly relies on spectrum for innovative technologies and services. This session assesses their current and future needs and examines the role of the state and public assets in providing spectrum for private industry.
Moderator: Andy Sage, Director, Helios*

Speakers:

• Andrew Charlton, Aviation Advocacy*
• Richard Womersley, Executive Consultant, Helios*
• Steve Methley, Quotient Associates Ltd*

11.15 – 11.30 Coffee break

11:30 – 12.45 pm

Are market mechanisms the only way to improve public sector efficiency?

Regulators are exploring the use of a market-based approach to making public sector more efficient, but could other mechanisms work as well?  This session examines whether cognitive radio, dynamic spectrum assignment and other regimes have a positive role to play.
Moderator: Richard Womersley, Executive Consultant, Helios*

Speakers:

• Phillipa Marks, PLUM Consulting *
• Mike Parkins, BandSharing Forum *
• John Berry, InterConnect Communications Ltd *
• Dr Robert Morton, Logica*
  

12:45 – 2:00 pm lunch
 
2:00 – 2:30 pm

Keynote address: The EC-commissioned report on public sector spectrum: Scott Marcus, WIKConsult *

Scott Marcus led the team of consultants which produced a report on public sector spectrum for the European Commission. In this session he will outline the implications of the report for policymakers across Europe.

Followed by Q & A

2:30 – 3:15 pm

Keynote address: Radioastronomy and earth sensing services -
Dr Axel Jessner

Dr Jessner, chairman of Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies
at the European Science Foundation will outline the policy issues relating to scientific services.  His presentation is titled: 'Natural Limits To Flexibility'

Followed by Q&A

3:15 – 3:30 pm coffee

3:30 – 4:45 pm

Wrap up round table: long term implications

How quickly are approaches to public sector spectrum likely to change? Will there be a consistent European approach or are individual nations likely to pursue different policies? What will be the commercial impact of improving public sector efficiency. In this session an academic, a technical consultant, a public sector representative and a regulator debate the issues
Moderator: Martin Sims, PolicyTracker *

• John Burns, Aegis Systems*
• Richard Womersley, Executive Consultant, Helios*
• Jeppe Jepsen, Director, Motorola and Chair of Spectrum Harmonization Initiative at PSC-Europe*
• Mike Parkins, BandSharing Forum*
• Hans Borgonjen, Chairman of Public Safety Radio Communication Group, vts Police Netherlands*

4:45 pm Close