In what was more bad news from the government for GEC Plc, the possibility of a third or fourth cellular radio operator being allowed to enter the UK market was ruled out earlier this month by Parliamentary Undersecretary of State John Butcher, until after the forthcoming pan-European digital cellular networks are set up (CI No 747). He also confirmed that the current UK cellular operators Racal Vodafone and Cellnet were to be allocated the remaining TACS frequencies that have been reserved for the forthcoming pan-European digital cellular network service, enabling them to act as operators of the UK arm of the forthcoming pan-European service, due to begin in 1991. Vodafone and Cellnet will sign a memorandum of understanding with other European companies in two months, committing all signatories to a detailed timetable for buying and installing equipment for the new networks. In May, Racal was signatory to the pan-European pact between the UK, France, West Germany and Italy.
