UK - Radical Overhaul Proposed For Wireless Licencing Leading to Wodges of Spectrum

spongebob

Ofcom (the UK Comreg) have published a consultation , open till mid Novermber, that goes a lot further than anything our lot could ever come up with. That not to say that our lot could not steal Ofcoms ideas or that the effects will not be felt in the BMW area as Wireless tends not to respect national boundaries.

Here is a list of some affected frequencies which include some very usable spectrum for which kit is already available. If nothing else it is a starter for some pointed questions about the medium to long term intentions of that lot over in Comreg .

1.35 – 1.517 GHz Point to Point Fixed Links
3.48 – 3.5 GHz
3.58 – 3.6 GHz FWA
3.605 – 3.689 GHz
3.925 – 4.009 GHz FWA
3.6 – 4.2 GHz Point to point fixed links
5.925 – 6.425 GHz Point to point fixed links
6.425 – 7.125 GHz Point to point fixed links
7.425 – 7.9 GHz Point to point fixed links
10.125 – 10.225 GHz
10.475 – 10.575 GHz To be assigned
12.75 – 13.25 GHz Point to point fixed links
14.5 – 15.35 GHz Point to point fixed links
17.7 – 19.7 GHz Point to point fixed links
22.0 – 23.6 GHz Point to point fixed links
24.5 – 26.5 GHz Point to point fixed links
28.0525 – 28.4445 GHz
29.0605 – 29.4525 GHz FWA

(and others)

The full document is available on the Ofcom site Here

The Big WHy is also interesting .

3.3 Spectrum use has to be planned and managed to prevent radio signals from interfering with each other. Historically, this has involved a ‘command and control’ approach with the regulator dictating in detail how spectrum is used by imposing restrictions on the services provided and technologies used. Existing licences issued under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 to authorise transmissions (and, without which transmission would be a criminal offence) impose a variety of restrictions, depending on the service. These include: • the application to which the spectrum is to be put, eg mobile, point-to-point terrestrial links and type of business; • use to be made of the spectrum; • technology to be employed; • transmitter power and location and antenna height; • frequency and bandwidth. 3.4 This makes the licences relatively inflexible as, in order to change use or any other characteristics beyond the terms of the licence, it is necessary to vary the licence. Ofcom’s aim is to remove restrictions that are no longer proportionate or necessary and to empower users to introduce a wider range of services and technologies. This marks a significant policy shift towards market-based mechanisms that allow users, rather than the regulator, to decide which parts of the spectrum should be allocated to particular services and technologies.

The great tragedy ,as always, is that IoffL have a better chance of influencing the UK regulator than they have of getting anyone in Comreg to listen to any intelligent spectrum use suggestions. Left to their own devices Comreg have only proposed innovative licencing schemes for some 200 Mhz in total between 0Mhz and 6000Mhz (3.5 the second time round and 5.8) thats 3% of the available NLOS spectrum .

While some 40% of the available NLOS spectrum is highly restricted by international convention they have no real excuse save their own myopia as regards the other 60% ....from which they have extracted that 3% I mentioned leaving some 57% largely under or un-utilised .

I would counsel keeping an eye on this one.

M