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11|04|06

Spectrum licence for mobile radio and public safety applications

Ofcom today published proposals for the release of available radiospectrum which could be used for a range of mobile radio, public safety communications and local mobile voice/data services.

New wireless services require access to additional radio spectrum, a finite national resource upon which all wireless communications depend. In January 2005 Ofcom outlined a rolling programme of spectrum awards that will see more than 400MHz of prime spectrum made available for a range of services over the next few years.

New spectrum licence

Ofcom today announced proposals for its latest spectrum award. It intends to auction a single Wireless Telegraphy Act licence for frequencies at 872-876MHz paired with 917-921MHz (2x4MHz) on a technology and application-neutral basis in early 2007.

Ofcom has identified a wide range of potential uses for this spectrum, including public and private mobile radio services or Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) which means, for example, radio microphones and audio links at concerts or sporting events. The spectrum could also be used for emergency services communications or possibly other mobile data or voice services. The award process is intended to give maximum freedom to the market to decide how the spectrum is used.

The key elements of the proposed award are:

• one licence will be offered to cover all of the UK;
• the licence will be tradeable, with an initial minimum period of 15 years;
• the licence will be technology and application neutral;
• the licence will contain technical requirements designed to protect neighbouring spectrum users from harmful interference;
• the auction will be decided by a single round of sealed bids; and
• the minimum price will be £50,000.

Next steps

The deadline for responses to this consultation is 21 June 2006. Ofcom will consider these responses and plans to hold a seminar for interested parties in the early summer. Ofcom will then aim to publish the following by the end of 2006 ahead of an auction in 2007:

• a statement on the responses to the consultation;
• an Information Memorandum with details of the award procedure and rules, licence conditions and other information likely to affect use of the band; and
• draft regulations setting out the auction rules and the mechanisms allowing trading in these bands.

The document can be found at www.ofcom.org.uk - see Related Items.

Ends.

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