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Home > Major Events > Events List > Papal Visit 2010

Papal Visit 2010

Date: 16-19 September 2010
Venues: Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Birmingham

Welcome to JFMG's Event Pages for this year's papal visit to the UK.  We hope that they will provide you with all the information you need when applying for frequencies for this event.  We also hope to provide you with up-to-date information regarding spectrum availability and demand.
As an international news and media event, frequency demand for the Pope's visit is likely to be high and concentrated in key locations.  The frequencies used range from 440MHz to 7GHz for various types of equipment including talkback, camera data, wireless microphones and wireless cameras.

The Coordination Team Paddy O'Reilly Contact: admin@jfmg.co.uk

Spectrum Overview:

When applying for frequencies we would strongly advise customers to apply for those that we manage on a day to day basis. Take a look at the "Your Frequencies" page for full details of what this includes. We will try our best to accommodate all frequency requests within this spectrum, however if we have insufficient channels to satisfy demand we will seek special authorisation to use spectrum owned by another user.

For requests for frequencies which JFMG do not manage, we have to apply for authorisation from the spectrum owners via Ofcom. This process can make the licensing process more complicated and time consuming. We would therefore advise customers to first see if they can operate their equipment on those frequencies we have direct access to.

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Talkback & Comms Frequencies (446-470MHz)

There is likely to be great demand for use of this spectrum not only at the locations the Pope is visiting but also at other locations where other events are taking place at the same time.

Although we will endeavour to meet your requests, an alternative frequency may be assigned. In order to assist us in meeting your needs, please provide details of equipment tuning ranges, or alternative pre-set channels.

Additionally, please provide information on the location of base-station transmitting antennas (for example: 'OB truck in car-park St. Mary’s College' or 'the roof of Lancaster House'). This will allow the interactions between various users to be assessed, thus enabling the limited spectrum to be used efficiently.

UK TV Bands (470 - 862 MHz)
The most popular bands for presenter's microphone's and communications is 470MHz to 862MHz. It is currently used for broadcasting, but where a particular channel is not being used for television transmission it can be used by PMSE.

Availability will vary across the UK, depending on frequencies used by television transmitters locally. For example, in central London restrictions due to broadcasting generally occur on frequencies below 615 MHz, however in Edinburgh availability is more fragmented.  For detailed information channel availability, please look at UHF Mic/IEM Location Planner on our website.

When applying please provide details of equipment tuning ranges, or alternative pre-set channels, in order to assist us in meeting your needs.

Wireless Cameras & Digital Links

There is likely to be high demand for this spectrum, particularly between 2GHz and 2.6GHz. Once again, in order to assist us in meeting your needs, please provide details of equipment tuning ranges.

Non PMSE Spectrum

JFMG is able to license frequencies across specific areas of spectrum from VHF through to SHF for PMSE use. These are frequencies where additional authorisation is not required. The different ranges can be found in the Register of Frequencies on our Your Frequencies pages

However, if your frequency requirement does not fall into any of the PMSE ranges, then spectrum must be sourced from Ofcom and this will require additional authorisation.

Shared & Licence Exempt Frequencies.

As the spectrum demand is likely to be high at all venues, utilising Licence exempt and UK shared frequencies is not recommended. These frequencies are shared with other licensed users without priority, and thus, at such a busy event, may be subject to mutual interference.

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Timescales, Fees & Payment

Each application for the Papal Visit will be acknowledged. The target date for when assignments will be issued, is no later than two weeks before the event. We will design a frequency plan which aims to match each user’s requirements to the limited frequency resources available with the minimum risk of interference. Where demand is high, this may mean that it is not possible to assign the exact frequencies requested or the number of frequencies requested. Any late applications will be handled on the usual first come, first served basis, but it may not always be possible to meet all the requests. Please note that frequencies will only be allocated upon receipt of full payment.

Our advice for customers wishing to operate at this event is to submit your requests in plenty of time to be included in the initial plan, and ensure that, if possible, your equipment is flexible in terms of frequency and power. This way, we can ensure that detailed radio frequency planning of the event can take place. 

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