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Home > Media and Analysts > News Release Archive > 2007 > Apr > 12|04|07
12|04|07
Removing regulation to promote new wireless services
Ofcom today announced proposals that will allow more extensive licence-exempt use of the radio spectrum and open up high-frequency bands for new and innovative applications.
There are already hundreds of wireless devices that can be used without a licence. These include: wireless headsets, cordless phones, car key-fobs, WiFi equipment, as well as vehicle anti-collision radar and identity cards to activate doors.
Ofcom’s Licence-Exemption Framework Review published today proposes to remove unnecessary regulations that could make it easier to develop new innovative wireless services. Specific proposals include:
- making certain low-power devices, such as those that could potentially be used to transfer data between handheld devices - like digital cameras and personal audio players, licence-exempt;
- removing the need to hold a licence to use the largely unused higher frequency bands (particularly above 100 GHz); and
- providing more flexible regulation that will allow many more licence-exempt users to share spectrum and additional capacity for new and existing applications.
Ofcom is required under the Communications Act 2003 to promote optimal use of spectrum in the interest of consumers and citizens.
In November 2004, Ofcom published its Spectrum Framework Review. This set out Ofcom’s intention to enable market forces to play a greater role in determining how spectrum is used and recognised the importance of setting aside spectrum for licence-exempt applications to maximise the use of this valuable resource and ensure more flexibility. The Licence-Exemption Framework Review builds on this to provide guidelines for managing licence-exemption over the next 20 years.
Subject to the outcome of this consultation, Ofcom will publish specific proposals for each of the three areas listed above from 2008.
The consultation runs until 21 June 2007 and the document can be found at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/lefr/
Ends.
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