Hewitt To Auction Airwaves For Multimedia Access

DTI Press Release - 19 April 2000

Patricia Hewitt, the Small Business and E-Commerce Minister, today announced another auction of the nation's airwaves this September.

The next auction will be for broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA) services. BFWA allows users to take advantage of cheap, fast internet and multimedia access by radio links rather than down a telephone line. Proposals include:

	an auction to be held this September for the spectrum available at 28 GHz for broadband fixed wireless access
	three licences to be awarded in each coverage area which will be defined in the next month.  Each licence will contain a forward and return channel to send and receive data; and,
	licences to be awarded on a regional basis.

Ms Hewitt said:

"There is an increasing demand for broadband services in all sectors of the economy including small businesses. I want these services to be developed as quickly as possible."

"Awarding licences by auction will ensure that they are taken up by those operators best placed to develop services most evidently. The licence package is designed to encourage new entrants and the development of a competitive market."

The Government has invited views by 19 May from interested parties on these proposals, including the number and size of regional coverage areas.  All documents on broadband fixed wireless access published by the Agency are available on its website: www.radio.gov.uk

Proposals for awarding 40 GHz licences for BFWA services will be announced in the summer, with the intention of making licences available later in the autumn.

Notes For Editors

1. The consultation document 'Wireless in the Information Age' was published on 5 July 1999. A copy of the document can be obtained on request from the Agency's library:

Information and Library Service
Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
LONDON
E14 9SX
Telephone: 020 7211 0502/5
Fax: 020 7211 0507
e-mail: library@ra.gsi.gov.uk

2. Ms Hewitt announced on 14 January her plans to make spectrum licences available at 28 GHz and 40 GHz for broadband fixed wireless access services - news release P/2000/20 refers.

3. The proposals have taken account of market and financial advice from KPMG. They have been developed in consultation with the Broadband Fixed Wireless Access Consultative Group, which was established in January. There has also been valuable input from the Spectrum Management Advisory Group, which provides Ministers with independent advice on strategic spectrum management issues.

Broadband Fixed Wireless Access - Proposals for the Licensing of Radio Spectrum (19 April 2000)

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