Michael Wills Unveils Wireless Revolution Telecoms Minister launches new bridge to the Internet for millions

DTI press release - 5 July 1999


Video telephone calls, virtual offices for homeworkers and the remote diagnoses of patient illnesses are just some of the pioneering possibilties set to become reality under plans for broadband services unveiled today by Telecoms Minister Michael Wills.

Mr Wills announced that he intends to consult on auctioning large amounts of radio spectrum which will enable new suppliers to offer low-cost access to the information superhighway. The new frequencies will give access over radio links without the need to lay cables to subscribers' homes or rent a connection.

Mr Will's launched the consultation document, Wireless in the Information Age, at an event hosted by the Government's independent advisors, the Spectrum Management Advisory Group.

Mr Wills said:

"This is a very exciting development and the opportunities offered by this new technology are endless. This will give everyone cheap access to the Information Superhighway. In the future you will be able to send home videos over the network to relatives, make video telephone calls and create virtual classrooms for learning.

"We are experiencing an information revolution every bit as significant as the industrial revolution. We must grasp the opportunities this offers and ensure that Britain remains at the
cutting edge of these new technologies.

"The Government will play its part and I look forward to seeing industry develop the innovative new services which will take advantage of this new opportunity."

Wireless in the Information Age asks for views on:

The choice of spectrum to be licensed, i.e. 40GHz and 28GHz;

The companies that will be permitted to bid for licences;

The number of licences to be provided; and

The geographical coverage of each licence.

The consultation periods ends on 30 September 1999.

Notes for Editors:

1. The announcement of spectrum for broadband wireless access forms part of the overall "Information Age" strategy for encouraging a competitive communications market and for ensuring that the opportunities are grasped by industry. Other elements include: the encouragement of competition in the last connection to the home and workplace through, inter alia, the provision of spectrum, enabling the UK to pioneer digital tv, lifting the broadcast entertainment restriction on BT and other PTOs and putting the UK in the vanguard of the next generation of mobile communications, through the proposed licences for 3rd Generation networks. At the same time, OFTEL are addressing the issue of access to BT's local copper loop in the context of the deployment of Digital Subscriber Line technologies through their "Access to Bandwidth" process.

2. The Consultation Document sets out ways in which major tranches of the radio spectrum may be made available for building wireless broadband networks and explains sharing issues with other services in each of the proposed bands. The document considers ways in which the spectrum might be packaged among operators to ensure the best competitive environment, both among terrestrial wireless operators, and in the context of the development of other wired and wireless networks (eg Digital Subscriber Line technology over existing telephone wires, Digital Cable, and Interactivity by Satellite) which have varying degrees of broadband capability. The document posits ways of licensing the spectrum, including the use of auctions.

3. The Minister made his announcement at an event organised by the Spectrum Management Advisory Group. This was set up a year ago as an authoritative and independent source of advice to Ministers and comprises members from all parts of the radio industry, users as well as providers.

4. One of the demonstrations at the event showed the speed of broadband connections by comparing the speed at which data was transferred over a wireless broadband link compared with a current 56kb/s modem link (currently the norm in most pcs).

5. Business and domestic users will not wish to have a broadband two-way connection for its own sake. The key will be what they can do with the resource and what third parties will deliver. Among the business applications are: high speed Internet access, the opportunity to transfer vast quantities of data quickly to clients and suppliers, video conferences, computer to computer links. Full involvement in electronic commerce will be a major requirement for businesses to remain competitive.

6. Opportunities will arise for more Home Working and for broadband radio links to rural areas. These connections will also create opportunities for new ways of providing education eg virtual classrooms, and delivering other public services. Tele- medicine will be an important development.

As for home use for entertainment the services include video on demand, home shopping and banking, interactive games, video telephony, exchange of photographs and home videos etc.

7. Copies of the consultation document, the accompanying report by Quotient and further information on SMAG can be obtained from the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) via both its website (www.radio.gov.uk) or through the RA Library:-

Radiocommunications Agency
8th Floor Library
New King's Beam House
22 Upper Ground
London SE1 9SA

Telephone: 020 7211 0502/0505
Fax: 020 7211 0116

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