No rest for the wicked [ComReg consultation]

eircomtribunal

Is that a first? ComReg have published their radio spectrum consultation paper on Sunday. See here

ComReg brags about its 3.5 gig licenses, which will not bring bb especially to rural ares. "As part of an initiative to promote more competition in the delivery of broadband, ComReg recently awarded local wireless broadband licenses which it is hoped will make a major contribution to achieving affordable broadband access, especially in rural areas."

And further "ComReg was the first" bragging: "ComReg was also the first in Europe to introduce licence exempt wireless broadband access in the 5.8 GHz band (5725-5875 MHz) and in 2005 we will be introducing a new licensing regime for radio service and technology trials which will bring Ireland to the forefront as an ideal location for research and development. This will allow new service concepts to be tested in a realistic environment at an early stage of development, ensuring that subsequent commercial offerings are properly tailored to meet the needs of users."

P.

damien

and the ENN story to accompany it:


http://www.enn.ie/frontpage/news-9573952.html
ComReg sets radio spectrum goals

On Sunday, Ireland's national communications regulator released a new consultation document on radio spectrum. The document sets out how the regulator plans to make the most of the country's radio spectrum over the next two years.

Among other things, the document says that in 2003 some EUR1.9 billion in wealth was produced by companies that consume radio spectrum, a figure that was roughly equal to 1.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). About 24,000 jobs are also dependent on radio spectrum, ComReg added, noting that the aeronautical, broadcasting, defence and maritime industries are all sectors that rely heavily on radio spectrum.

The lion's share of revenues by consumers of radio spectum goes to mobile operators, such as Vodafone, O2 and Meteor. During the third quarter of 2004, these three firms raked in EUR431 million, with virtually all of that cash genenerated through wireless communications, which rely on radio spectrum.

"Radio spectrum is now widely recognised as being a key economic resource for any nation and it is important to put a strategic plan for use of the spectrum in an appropriate economic context," said Isolde Goggin, chairperson of ComReg. Goggin's office said that there are four objectives to its regulatory strategy over the next two years -- a strategy that will be rooted in a policy of regulating only where required and intervening only where necessary to promote competition.

Objective one is to facilitate access to radio spectrum, particularly for innovative technologies services. The agency ays that it would also like to maximise the economic and social benefits from the use of radio spectrum. Objectives three and four are to promote efficient use of scarce radio spectrum resources, and to seek to ensure compliance with international requirements.

Interestingly, ComReg noted that Ireland, with its relatively low population density and high level of high-tech industry, has an advanced radio communications network which is not plagued by the problems with overcapacity found elsewhere in Europe. This makes the country an ideal test bed for new wireless technologies.

"ComReg's approach to spectrum management is to regulate only where required and to intervene only where necessary to promote competition and protect users," Goggin added. "In order to further develop our strategy it is important that ComReg elicits a wide cross-section of views on the proposals contained in this strategy consultation. I welcome comments from the public, users, industry, government and interest groups to the proposals contained in this document."