LONDON -(Dow Jones)- The U.K. Office of Communications said Thursday that it is seeking views on proposals to make a significant number of spectrum bands available to the market over the next few years.
The regulator also outlined the possibility of extending spectrum trading and liberalisation to mobile phone services.
The closing date for responses is Mar. 24, 2005.
Twelve spectrum bands are expected to be available for award by the end of 2008. Some of these bands are small allocations, or are likely to be only of limited use, Ofcom said.
Other bands, however, such as the 190 MHz of spectrum at 2500-2690 MHz, represent a significant amount of spectrum that could be used for a wide range of different applications such as next generation mobile applications or wireless broadband.
The bands discussed in the document include:
410-425 MHz, 870-921 MHz (part only) (available for award from 2005-2006). Available as a result of licensee insolvency, these bands could be used for radio services for businesses, additional capacity for the emergency services and programme making.
1452-1492 MHz ('L band', available from 2006-2007). Possible uses include broadcast multimedia, new mobile applications and digital radio.
1781.7-1785 MHz paired with 1876.7-1880 MHz ('DECT guard bands', available from 2005-2006). Previously reserved as a buffer between 2G mobile and cordless telephone (DECT) frequencies. Possible uses include innovative, low-power GSM applications.
1790-1798 MHz (available from 2007-2008). Presently used by the emergency services but additional capacity may become available by 2007-08. Possible uses include wireless broadband applications.
2010-2025 MHz and 2290-2302 MHz (available from 2005-2006). 2010-2025 MHz was reserved for IMT-2000 (3G) systems (but is unused) and the 2290-2302 MHz band was recently returned to Ofcom by the MoD. Could be used for next generation mobile applications or wireless broadband.
2500-2690 MHz (available from 2006-2007). Presently used by programme makers for outside broadcasts. Possible future uses include next generation mobile applications and wireless broadband.
10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz, 40 GHz (available at varying times, from 2006-2008). Significant amounts of additional capacity for a range of new services. Includes licences not assigned in the previous auction of 28GHz frequencies.
The document also discusses three other bands, on which further work is required before identifying a date for release:
174 - 230 MHz (part only) ('Band III'). Ofcom has proposed additional awards in its separate review of the radio industry, published on Dec. 16, 2004.
470-854 MHz ('digital switchover spectrum'). Currently used for analogue television but new options for use will emerge with the transition to digital broadcasting. 112 MHz of spectrum could become available. Proposals dependent upon international negotiations at the Regional Radio Conference in 2006.
3.6-4.2 GHz. Presently used for high speed fixed links, satellite services, and fixed wireless access. Subject to further work on sharing issues, additional capacity may be available for further terrestrial applications.
Commenting on trading and liberalisation in mobile services:
Four operators currently offer second generation (2G) mobile telephony services in the U.K. with licences to use bands of spectrum at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. Five licences to offer third generation (3G) services were awarded in 2000 and 3G services have been commercially available since early 2003. In total, there are about 60 million users of mobile phone services in the U.K.
Ofcom has already indicated its intention to extend spectrum trading to the 2G and 3G bands in 2007. The document published Thursday sets out more details of the options for extending spectrum trading and liberalisation to these bands, taking account of the need for a smooth transition to the new approach to spectrum management. In particular, the document:
Proposes that, in general, there should be no restriction on the ability to use spectrum for mobile phone services other than 3G. Considers the case for a transitional period before removing restrictions on the ability to use spectrum that is currently not used for mobile phone services to develop 3G services in the future. It suggests this transitional period might last till 2007.
Considers how and when liberalisation might be extended to the existing 2G licences.
Ofcom invites comments on these issues and on a number of other relevant issues, including the importance of international legal constraints on the use of the 2G and 3G bands such as the E.U. harmonisation Directive (87/372/EEC), which restricts use of certain 2G frequencies to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard.
In order to give greater certainty to all parties, the document discusses the action that Ofcom might take if any 3G licensee does not comply with network roll-out obligations. Under the terms of their WT Act licences, the current 3G operators are each required to provide network coverage to 80% of the U.K. population by the end of 2007. Ofcom is not making any proposals to remove these regulatory obligations.
Ofcom suggests that licence revocation is only likely to be proportionate in serious cases of non-compliance, not least given the serious consequences that this could have for existing customers of any licensee. The document also discusses other options for action short of revocation.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires"
Posted to the site on 13th January 2005
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/11683.php