More People to Benefit from Always-On Internet Access

DTI Press Release - 20 October 2000

Patricia Hewitt, Minister for e-Commerce and Small Business today announced a consultation on Government plans to make further radio spectrum licences available for always-on internet access and other multimedia services.

The Government intends to make licences for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services at 3.4GHz and 10GHz available next year.

Ms Hewitt said:

"This Government has set a target of making the UK the best place in the world to do business electronically. Rolling out Fixed Wireless Access services is vital to achieving this goal.

"These two tranches of spectrum could complement the services offered by the 28GHz spectrum (Broadband Fixed Wireless Access), bringing these services to more of the UK, benefiting small businesses, homes and teleworkers. We will now be exploring the market and technological opportunities for these wave bands."

The Radiocommunications Agency and its advisors (W S Atkins Management Consultants, Schema and Denton Wilde Sapte) will put forward proposals to industry for spectrum packaging at a series of meetings of the Fixed Wireless Access Consultative Committee, as well as seeking advice on financial and market issues.

The first meeting will be on the 25 October 2000, where the timetable will be outlined and proposals for the number of licences to be awarded and their geographical scope will be discussed.

Notes to Editors:

1. A consultation document "Consultation on 3.4 GHz Fixed Wireless Access Spectrum" was published on 22 November 1999. This announced that 2 x 17MHz of radio spectrum (3.425 to 3.442GHz and 3.475.688 to 3.492.688GHz) would be awarded by comparative selection for FWA. This current consultation will seek to confirm the results of the November 1999 process. 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

It is also available on the Agency's website: www.radio.gov.uk

2. The Agency is now starting a full consultation on how best to deliver new always-on Internet access, telephone, fax and data services to the residential and business sectors using 3.4GHz and 10GHZ Fixed Wireless Access spectrum.

3. The Agency is proposing to offer 2 x 30MHz of spectrum (10.1555 to 10.185GHz and 10.505 to 109.535GHz). Two incumbent national FWA operators (NTL and Cable & Wireless) may use 2 x 30MHz of spectrum either side of the bands mentioned above. These operators were successful in the comparative selection following the 1995 consultation 'Radio Fixed Access Increasing the Choice'.

4. Cambridge based company Ionica Plc was originally awarded a licence to operate a Fixed Wireless Access service using 3.4GHz frequencies in 1993. Subsequently, a second licence to operate a service using 10GHz frequencies was awarded in 1996. The company went into administration in October 1998.

5. The Radiocommunications Agency is an executive agency of the DTI, responsible for licensing civil use of the radio spectrum in the UK.

DTI Media Enquiries: 020 7215 2345
Out of Hours: 020 7215 3234/3505
Public Enquiries: 020 7215 5000
Textphone for those with hearing impairments: 020 7215 6740
Radiocommunications Agency Public Enquiries: 020 7211 0211
DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk
Radiocommunications Agency website: www.radio.gov.uk

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