Real Wireless has been commissioned by the UK Spectrum Policy Forum to study spectrum frameworks for lunar communications. The work will examine how radio spectrum should be managed for emerging Moon-based communications systems.

The project will assess the spectrum environment needed for sustained lunar operations, including communications relays, surface networks and navigation infrastructure. It will examine future demand across different lunar uses, identify suitable frequency bands and consider how regulation may need to change to support links between Earth systems, lunar orbit and infrastructure on the Moon’s surface.

The commission comes as governments and commercial operators step up planning for longer-term lunar missions, increasing pressure on policymakers to decide how spectrum should be coordinated, protected and governed beyond Earth orbit.

Hosted by techUK, the UK Spectrum Policy Forum brings together industry and policy stakeholders on spectrum issues. The study is intended to provide detailed analysis of how existing terrestrial and satellite spectrum management approaches may translate to an environment where multiple missions and services operate at the same time.

Lunar demand

The study is expected to cover several layers of lunar connectivity, including relay links connecting lunar assets to Earth, local communications networks for surface operations and navigation systems for missions operating around and on the Moon.

Interoperability will be a key focus. Any future framework will need to account for coordination between Earth-based networks, spacecraft in lunar orbit and systems on the surface, particularly as agencies and private operators from different countries pursue their own programmes.

The work will also consider possible conflicts with existing services, including radio astronomy and Earth satellite systems. This could prove significant because spectrum allocations for space services already sit within an international regime that must balance scientific, commercial and public sector demands.

International governance will form part of the review, with attention on how mechanisms developed through bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union may evolve for cislunar and lunar use. The findings are intended to inform UK thinking on how global rules could develop as lunar traffic grows.

Policy questions

The broader policy challenge is that lunar communications are moving from a largely theoretical issue to one of operational urgency. Programmes such as the European Space Agency’s Moonlight initiative and UK-backed lunar missions have strengthened the case for advancing spectrum planning before large-scale activity begins.

For regulators, the issue is not only access to frequencies but also how to avoid interference and ensure systems from different operators can coexist. Those questions become more complex when communications, navigation and scientific services all need access at different points between Earth and the Moon.

Dr Abhaya Sumanasena, head of policy and regulation at Real Wireless, described the significance of the work in the context of those wider developments.

“The Moon is no longer just a distant exploration target. It has the potential to be a practical operating environment for communications and navigation systems in the very near future. Establishing coherent, internationally aligned spectrum frameworks now is essential if we are to enable safe, scalable and commercially viable lunar operations,” Sumanasena said.

The commission also reflects wider UK interest in shaping international spectrum policy for space activity. As lunar communications rise up the agenda, national studies such as this can help governments define positions before multilateral negotiations on new or updated spectrum arrangements.

That matters because any framework for lunar communications is unlikely to be determined by one country alone. International alignment will be needed if orbiting relays, landers, rovers, scientific payloads and navigation services are to work together without harmful interference.

The study is due to run for about three months and will conclude with a report setting out recommendations on spectrum allocation, regulatory reform and international coordination mechanisms for lunar communications systems.

Fluke has published survey findings showing that predictive maintenance adoption in UK manufacturing rose from 9% to 22%, while skills shortages now account for 77% of reported barriers to progress.

The data points to a broader shift in maintenance strategy as manufacturers move away from reactive models. Reactive maintenance fell from 42% to 26%, while proactive maintenance edged up from 48% to 50% among UK respondents.

Conducted by Censuswide, the survey covered more than 600 senior decision-makers and maintenance professionals across the US, the UK and Germany. The UK results suggest manufacturers are continuing to invest in digital tools even as confidence in rapid transformation weakens.

Nearly three-quarters of organisations said they now allocate 16% to 30% of maintenance budgets to new technologies. At the same time, investment priorities have shifted away from exploratory artificial intelligence projects towards areas more closely tied to day-to-day operations.

Generative AI drew interest from 38% of respondents, followed by cybersecurity at 37%, Industrial AI at 34% and data management at 32%. The findings suggest companies are prioritising projects with more direct applications in production and maintenance.

Workforce gap

Despite growth in spending and adoption, the survey suggests the main constraint is no longer access to funds. Instead, manufacturers face a shortage of people with the knowledge and experience needed to use the technology effectively.

Knowledge shortages made up 23% of reported barriers, broad workforce skills shortages 19%, lack of expertise 18% and skilled labour gaps 17%. Taken together, those issues made skills-related problems the dominant obstacle to progress.

The figures point to a mismatch between the pace of technology deployment and workforce readiness on factory floors and in maintenance teams. That tension is emerging as a central issue for manufacturers trying to turn digital investment into operational change.

Readiness outlook

The findings also show a more cautious view of Industry 5.0 timelines. The share of respondents expecting to reach that stage within six months fell from 31% to 20%, while 37% now expect it to take between one and four years.

That retreat in short-term expectations appears to be shaping where companies focus their efforts. Rather than pursuing broader transformation targets in the immediate term, many are concentrating on practical projects that can be introduced sooner.

Connected reliability was the clearest example of that approach. Some 45% of respondents said they plan to prioritise connected reliability initiatives over the next 12 months, suggesting companies see reliability programmes as a more immediate route to improving operations.

The results come as manufacturers face pressure to improve productivity, reduce downtime and justify technology spending with measurable outcomes. Maintenance functions have become an important testing ground for digital tools because failures and repairs are easier to track than broader organisational change.

Predictive maintenance has drawn attention because it promises earlier detection of equipment issues and less unplanned downtime than reactive approaches. The increase from 9% to 22% indicates wider adoption in the UK, though the survey suggests the model has not yet become the norm across the sector.

Proactive maintenance remains the largest single approach at 50%, showing that many manufacturers still favour scheduled and preventive work over fully predictive systems. The decline in reactive maintenance, however, points to a continued retreat from fix-on-failure models.

Parker Burke, President of Fluke, linked digital spending to the practical challenge of implementation. “Manufacturers are continuing to invest in digital technologies, but progress depends on how effectively those technologies are applied. Our findings show that reliability and workforce skills are now the critical factors in converting technology spend into measurable operational improvement. We need a solution to the skills shortage to supplement technology investment for the best results,” Burke said.

Vineet Thuvara, Chief Product Officer at Fluke, said the shift in maintenance strategy is becoming harder to ignore. “The progress is encouraging, but it’s not enough yet. Predictive maintenance is no longer a future ambition: it is the baseline. Manufacturers’ next challenge is scaling adoption and integrating it across the organisation, ensuring these capabilities work in harmony across the organisation, not in isolation,” Thuvara said.

The Flooring Centre in Witney High Street has been listed for £575,000 with the tenancy included as part of the agreement.

The listing from estate agents Chancellors stated: “An exciting opportunity to purchase this prime location shop, sold with tenants in central Witney, complete with parking, office space and kitchen area.”

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The lease for The Flooring Centre in Witney is included in the sale (Image: Chancellors)

The ‘premium carpet showroom’ offers a range of supplies and is a member of the Associated Carpet Group, a national buying association that works with independent retailers.

The business has a 4.8 star rating based on 24 Google Reviews from customers and describes itself as a ‘family business’ online.

It first filed on Companies House as a business in 2007 and in its latest accounts for 2024 reported an average of six employees across the year.