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27|05|09

Olympic airwaves

An estimated five billion viewers will tune in when the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games get underway in the summer of 2012.

But while the new Olympic Stadium in East London will provide the focal point for the sporting spectacle, the games will also rely on something you can't see - radio spectrum.

That's because thousands of different wireless services - ranging from the walkie-talkies used by the organisers to the TV cameras of the World's media - will be needed throughout the Games, and all will need spectrum.

In fact, demand for airwaves in London during the 2012 Games will be unprecedented.

Airwaves

So today we're publishing proposals on how we will manage the airwaves during the seven weeks of the Games.

The proposals set out what spectrum we will make available, how we will license its use and how we will minimise the risk of interference.

The airwaves will be needed for a variety of different uses during the Games.

These include the private mobile radios used by the London Organising Committee at the Olympic Park and the 35 other Games venues across the UK.

Video - Ofcom: Helping to deliver the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

Olympic officials will also use these radios for communicating from land to sea during the sailing events at Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay.

Media

Spectrum will also be needed to support the 20,000 members of the media who will be involved in broadcasting the Games.

For example, wireless microphones and in-ear monitors will be needed for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as for post-race interviews and sporting commentators.

Broadcasters will also use wireless cameras for screening pictures from inside and outside venues, including

airborne coverage during wide-area events such as the marathons.

In addition, spectrum will be needed for satellite services carrying voice, data and video transmissions, remote control cameras and for the provision of Wi-Fi hotspots for spectators and visitors.

Draft spectrum plan

Ofcom's draft spectrum plan identifies potential sources that could provide the necessary supply of spectrum.

It maps out how the UK's airwaves could be deployed for different uses, whilst minimising the impact on current use and demand.

The draft plan identifies three different sources:

• Civil spectrum, used as efficiently as possible;
• Temporarily borrowing spectrum on a short-term basis from public sector bodies, such as the Ministry of Defence; and
• Licence-exempt spectrum.

Ofcom believes that, based on our current assessment of both supply and demand,  we will be able to authorise use of a sufficient amount of spectrum for the Games.

Not just London

Today's draft plan concentrates mainly on London where most of the events will take place.

However, it also assesses the spectrum needs of the other venues across the UK, in particular Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour.

Spectrum for the football games that will be held at Villa Park, Birmingham; the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff; Hampden Park, Glasgow; Old Trafford, Manchester; and St James's Park, Newcastle as well as London's Wembley Stadium are also considered as part of this plan.

The consultation closes on 5 August 2009.

We expect to publish a statement on the spectrum plan for the Games by the end of 2009.

The plan will be subject to ongoing refinement in the run-up to the Games themselves.

 

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