Business Application for Managing and Issuing Radio Licences

Overview

JFMG is the band manager for programme-making, live entertainment, special events and related activities. They co-ordinate the use of radio spectrum and issue licences for applications including wireless microphones, wireless cameras, programme links and communications.

JFMG Ltd is a privately owned spectrum management company, independent of the UK’s regulator Ofcom. They have been successfully managing radio spectrum since 1997 for the UK Radiocommunications Agency and now Ofcom

Business Requirements

In order to meet their commercial objectives and Ofcom’s regulations, JFMG required a totally new system that would automate the delivery of transmission licences. This involved a new set of business processes and web delivery of a complex application. JFMG also required an E-commerce section on their website to provide cut-down facilities to customers over the Internet such as those for annual licence renewal, shared radio microphones, handling credit card payments, etc.

Our Solution

Beacon has been working closely with JFMG over a number of years and has developed a major system called the ‘JFMG Integrated Business System’ (JIBS) which manages the provision of licences throughout the UK. Beacon also designed a full E-commerce application which was implemented as a portal from the main JFMG website. In order to prove the whole concept, we piloted the e-commerce site before going live at JFMG. The site provides a wide range of facilities such as purchasing and renewing annual licences, basket-type purchase system, payment processes, etc.

All applications were developed using .NET with a SQL Server database back-end. The system has been used successfully for several years and various extensions have been developed. The main business system has hardly changed and has become the main application of the company. Beacon has provided support for the system and has introduced further enhancements such as providing new reports and modifications to handle price changes.

Technology Used