The UK is at risk of a spectrum “crunch” if growing demand across a number of sectors are not met, warned a group called Spectrum Policy Forum.

The group, which serves as an “industry-led sounding board” to the government and regulator Ofcom, warned that “failure to provide adequate spectrum in the sectors that have critical business and social requirements could result in significant economic and social impact for the UK”.

The study looked at 11 sectors: public mobile, utilities, business radio, space, meteorology, defence, transportation, broadcasting and entertainment, short range wireless, fixed wireless and amateur radio.

According to the body, major users of spectrum in the UK identified business and societal activities which depend on spectrum, and found “pinch points” that must be addressed to maximise future growth in spectrum value.

These “pinch points”, which are common across the sectors, include: threats to current services given spectrum demand from other sectors, the need to align the UK spectrum policy with international policies, and addressing tensions between public sector and private use of spectrum.

Tensions also exist between exclusive licensing and licence-exempt spectrum access, and between public access and critical communications.

There is also “immaturity and lack of regulatory clarity of newer models of spectrum access such as spectrum sharing and policies regarding spectrum pricing”, read the study.

To address the concerns, the forum said it will look at exerting a positive influence on the UK position in the EU and ITU, engaging government ministers to ensure spectrum remains high on the agenda, and progressing long term goals to enable greater access to spectrum held by the public sector.

UK’s Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaisey talked up the importance of radio spectrum to business, and said it “will play a key role in the continued growth of the UK’s economy”.

“This report on the future of spectrum will help us work together to focus on the challenges in getting the best value for the UK from using spectrum,” he added.

Earlier this month, Ofcom put a halt on a planned spectrum auction in 2016, until investigations into two proposed mergers (BT/EE and 3/O2 UK) have concluded.