Presentations from the UK SPF Cluster 2: Public Sector Spectrum Release (PSSR) - Utilities and 5G

1. Delivering the Public Sector Spectrum
Release Programme: The Role of the
Spectrum Central Management Unit
Helen Mitchell, Head of CMU

2. Background on UKGI
• Created in 2016, combining the Shareholder Executive and UK Financial Investments, to provide the Government with
a centre of excellence in corporate finance and governance
• Owned by HM Treasury, but independently managed. Governed by a fiduciary board, but governance and advisory
roles are undertaken directly on behalf of departmental Secretaries of State. Currently working for ten departments
• UKGI’s objectives are to:
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Prepare and execute all significant corporate asset sales by the UK Government
Act as shareholder for those arm’s length bodies of the UK Government that are structured to allow
a meaningful shareholder function and for other assets facing complex transactions
Advise on all major UK Government financial interventions into corporate structures
Advise on major UK Government negotiations with corporates

3. Why a Spectrum Central Management Unit?
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The Spectrum Central Management Unit (CMU), located within UK Government Investments, is responsible
for the delivery of the spectrum release programme and an overall improvement in the public sector’s
strategic spectrum use, reporting to DCMS and Treasury ministers
CMU brings both commercial and public policy perspective to the management and use of spectrum. We
offer impartial advice directly to ministers and permanent secretaries of departments that own a particular
asset or project – in this case spectrum
Our objectives are:
 To deliver ministerial ambitions and release spectrum from public to private use
 To improve the public sector’s strategic coordination of spectrum use and improve long
term planning
 To generate value for the UK economy
 To generate financial proceeds for the Exchequer

4. The Public Sector Spectrum Release Programme
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PSSRP established in 2010, with a focus on promoting economic growth
through more effective and strategic oversight of spectrum as a government-
owned asset
Key objective: to release valuable spectrum held by the public sector to the
private sector where it is possible and cost-effective to do so
‘valuable’ determined by Ofcom, as adviser to CMU, based on
its technical assessment of market demand (domestic and
international), consumer and competition analysis and
efficiency of public sector use
Programme originally targeted the release of 500MHz of valuable spectrum
under 5GHz. In 2016, the target was extended to reflect changes in market
demand: 750MHz of spectrum under 10GHz by 2022.
From May 2017, encompasses all spectrum used by public sector incl. higher
frequency spectrum to deliver Government’s 5G vision
2017 Conservative Party Manifesto:
o By 2022...all major roads and main train lines
will enjoy full and uninterrupted mobile phone
signal, alongside guaranteed Wi-Fi internet
service on all such trains
o We will continue to release more spectrum
from public to private sector use to allow
greater private sector access and begin the
roll-out of a new 5G network…we plan to have
the majority of the population covered by a 5G
signal by 2027
CMU remains on track to deliver the PSSR target: More than 384MHz has already been released or shared

5. Challenges in delivering the PSSR, and how TechUK can
help
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 Spectrum use within public and private sectors is changing
 Pressure to use spectrum more efficiently is increasing
 Exclusive spectrum use reducing: sharing likely to become more prevalent (incl within public sector)
 Need a clear evidence base to progress decisions in any individual frequency / band
Technical issues may limit release or sharing and / or departments own requirements and internal policy priorities
could prevent the release or sharing of commercially attractive spectrum bands
Progress relies on relationships and trust at all levels – this is particularly true for sharing with the public sector where
priorities may be vastly different from commerce
Public sector working to create a baseline of current use, but in the meantime, the CMU annual report sets out the
areas of focus
 Relationships between CMU and spectrum using government departments are good, leading to
dynamic and innovative discussions on spectrum usage and sharing possibilities
 Potential for long-term, more efficient and intelligent use of public sector spectrum
 Pricing incentivisation has improved public sector decision making and improved long-term planning
may lead to greater creativity in public sector around current and long-term spectrum usage
 Opportunities for UK equipment manufacturers to develop technology that enables 5G and/or dynamic
spectrum sharing

6. Questions?
Helen Mitchell
Head, Spectrum Central Management Unit
UK Government Investments
helen.Mitchell@ukgi.gov.uk
CMU 2016-17 Annual Report can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-spectrum-
release-programme
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