UK regulator to open 5.8 GHz Band C for broadband wireless

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 00:01:37 +0000
From: John Wilson <johnresearch () hotmail com>
Subject: UK regulator to open 5.8 GHz Band C for broadband wireless
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[ Today the UK government announced access to 5.8 GHz Band C spectrum for
wireless broadband. Comment follows below. - JW]:

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http://213.38.88.221/gnn/national.nsf/TI/44B8018B1358A37D80256E010059977A?op
endocument

P/2003/629

19 December 2003

5.8GHZ SPECTRUM OPEN


DTI is opening the 5.8Ghz Band C spectrum to a wide user base ranging
from Existing Telecommunication and Internet Services Providers
through to Community, Health and Educational Sectors. Authorisation
to use this band will be under the management of the new OFCOM regime
from Monday 2 February 2004 and will help boost the availability of
broadband services especially in rural areas.

Applicants will need a licence to authorise the use of the spectrum.
The licensing framework aims to minimise burdens on business and
communities, and protect existing essential users.

Opening this band is expected to boost the development of fixed
wireless access services, such as low cost internet access in areas
not currently reached by broadband services. This will benefit the
rural economy.

Ofcom will be accepting licence applications from Monday 5 January.
Licence fees will initially be set at an annual fee of £1 per
terminal, subject to a minimum annual charge of £50.

Notes for editors:

1. DTI is opening 5.8GHz Band C (5725 to 5850 MHz) on Monday 2
February for the provision of broadband fixed wireless access
services.

2. Details of the licensing regime are at www.Ofcom.org.uk or by
calling the Ofcom Contact Centre on 0845 456 3000.

Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET

Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
www.dti.gov.uk

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[- This is now called a "light licensing" regime, despite originally being
framed by a "Consultation on the use of licence-exempt spectrum for the
provision of public telecommunication services":
http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/mobiledata/rlans-licence-exempt/consultation-
event.htm Hence the UK lacks the regulatory clarity of no-licence spectrum
access, vis the FCC's UNII Band 5.8 GHz

- Spectrum policy has been the subject of some frustration in the UK over
the past twelvemonth. A recent report of the UK Broadband Stakeholder
Group's Wireless sub-group calls for a top-level review of spectrum
management policy in the UK on the model of the FCC's Spectrum Policy Task
Force: http://www.broadbanduk.org/reports/BSG_wireless_report_nov03.pdf -
see pp 22-23; esp. Rec 6:
---
"Undertake a major review of Spectrum Management Policy

Issue: Regulatory processes are too slow (discussions on the release of 5.8
GHz
have been ongoing since the early 1990s). The regulatory difficulties
encountered over the past twelve months by both industry and consumer
access advocates with regard to the 3.4GHz auction and the 5.8GHz Band C
"Licence Exempt Spectrum" issues, highlight the need to find a new more
flexible approach.

BSG View: The establishment of OFCOM offers an opportune moment to review
spectrum
management policy and relate this to the public interest and the Broadband
Britain Agenda. It is recommended that OFCOM conduct a high level review of
spectrum management policy as an urgent matter of public interest. It is
noted
that OFCOM is now tasked with "a particular duty with regard to broadband"
following the Communications Act. The policy precedent for such a high
level,
urgent review is the FCC's Spectrum Policy Task Force in the United States
of
last year: the UK Government and UK PLC need to relate to the global
picture".
---

- Earlier this week BT announced its 5.8 GHz trials:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39118580,00.htm
BT trials wireless broadband service
Graeme Wearden
ZDNet UK
December 16, 2003, 17:40 GMT
Four trials in rural Britain could lead to BT selling high-speed wireless
broadband to broadband have-nots. It could see every household in the
country get access to broadband (...)

-JW | www.johnwilsonweb.com | www.arwain.net | www.ABCampaign.org.uk ]




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