BROADBAND
BROADBAND 
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1. RA’s key activities on broadband
2. RA strategy on spectrum for broadband
3. Government policy on broadband
4. What do we mean by broadband?
5. Delivering broadband by wireless
6. Spectrum available for delivering broadband
7. Wireless access technologies and standards
8. Control of potential interference by non-radio technologies
10. Point-to-point fixed links
Last updated 29 October 2003
RA’s activities on wireless broadband support the Government’s policy objective to make the UK the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. RA has:
RA’s main strategic objective is to provide spectrum that will maximise operators’ opportunities to provide access to a full range of broadband services, now and in the future. A number of frequency bands can (and do) accommodate Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) operations between 2.4 GHz and 40 GHz. The spectrum in each band has its own characteristics; together, the bands offer operators a range of service capacity.
A key consideration in our strategy is the Government’s policy for driving forward broadband networks. Making spectrum available will increase the options for delivering broadband, complementing other platforms and competing with them for customers who have higher bandwidth requirements. In this way, wireless technologies can make an important contribution to the Government’s target.
Wireless has some advantages over other platforms in terms of speed and scalability of roll-out – and, at the lower frequencies, it is comparable to cable modem and digital subscriber line (DSL) in terms of cost-effectiveness in urban and suburban environments. FWA operators are most likely to target those areas that cannot be reached by cable and DSL, and those customers who want higher bandwidth services than DSL can deliver.
In terms of the overall market for broadband, we estimate that FWA will account for between 7% and 18% within the next five years, its customers being mainly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
RA aims to design award processes so that they meet operators’ need for ready access to spectrum. Where the interference potential is low, we exempt systems from licensing; and we license spectrum where operators wish to deliver a higher level of service or where spectrum is limited. Award processes – whether auctions or otherwise – are designed so that spectrum is put in the hands of those best placed to develop it.
RA has started (in response to Professor Martin Cave’s Review of Radio Spectrum Management), to give operators more freedom in how they may use their spectrum, by removing licence restrictions on coverage and services deployed. This will enable operators to be more flexible in responding to market demands.
If the UK is to succeed as a world-class location for public service delivery,
e-business and online participation, we must develop a world-class communications infrastructure. Broadband will play a pivotal role in this – not just for business, but for people and Government as well. Its relevance therefore extends to business, Government and citizens.
The broadband market in the UK is currently a key focus for the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, and a priority area for policymakers. The Government believes that the rapid roll-out and adoption of broadband, both fixed and mobile, across the UK is important to both its social and its economic objectives.
The target is about getting the UK’s broadband environment right for businesses and consumers, as well as ensuring that public-sector organisations such as schools, libraries, further education and universities gain optimum benefit. The Government believes that it is important to develop a market that is both extensive and competitive. Extensiveness means extending broadband networks to households throughout the country, including those in rural and remote areas. Competitiveness means providing consumers with value for money and a wide product choice in the market. Take-up, which is not part of the Government’s target, will be a secondary indicator of success.
The Government’s policy is set out in the Governments response to the Second Broadband Stakeholder Group Annual Report and Strategic Recommendations. The DTI has overall lead for broadband policy - see http://www.dti.gov.uk/industries/telecoms/broadband.html for more infomation.
“Broadband” describes the capacity to send data over a telecommunications network: the greater the bandwidth, the more data can be sent in a given amount of time. Capacity is usually measured in terms of data speeds.
There are many different telecommunications systems, capable of transmitting data at different speeds. Using examples from wired systems:
There is no generally agreed definition of broadband or what data rates constitute broadband but current generation broadband is often regarded as a data rate of 2Mbit/s and over. In practice, people see broadband as allowing fast, always-on access to the Internet, which standard dial-up telephone lines cannot provide. But technologies and expectations are constantly developing, and what is regarded as broadband today may be seen as narrowband in the near future.
Common broadband services could
include high-capacity data transfer, video conferencing, video on demand, interactive
games and audio, online banking and shopping, local area network (LAN) access
and web serving.
In this briefing, we have avoided limiting the term “broadband”
to any particular data rate.
There are currently a number of options available for the delivery of broadband. The main options are:
and
FWA systems are a means of making “last-mile” connections between users’ premises and a telecommunications network. They can deliver very high data rates and have the potential to transport a complete range of electronic traffic, including telephony, high-speed data, television and multimedia services.
The target market for these services includes small and medium enterprises (SMEs); single-office, home-office (SOHOs) for teleworking; and sectors of the residential market that demand always-on Internet access and interactive email. The higher-bandwidth services may be particularly attractive to users such as colleges and business parks.
FWA has a number of advantages over wired and cable systems. Its range of operation is less limited than ADSL, which may not reach customers located more than 3.5 km from a local exchange. It can be more quickly deployed than cable, because there is no need to dig up roads to lay down a network before connecting customers. It is cost-effective, because base stations do not have to be established until there are customers in an area (so costs are also scaleable to the size of the customer base). It can provide very high data rates. It can also provide nomadic or mobile services.
2.4 GHz (2400 to 2483.5 MHz)
The provision of commercial telecommunication services is now permissible in this licence-exempt band.
The Wireless LAN Advisory Group (WAG) is a recently established advisory body to RA. It will address technical, policy and standardisation issues regarding the use of spectrum to provide mobile/nomadic WLANs and short-range fixed broadband point-to-multipoint communications. These services will cover a range of frequencies and technologies. At present it is considering the bands 2.4 GHz (2400 to 2483.5 MHz) and 5 GHz (5150 to 5350 MHz, 5470 to 5725 MHz and 5725 to 5875 MHz).
3.4 GHz (3480 to 3500 MHz paired with 3580 to 3600 MHz)
The auction for 3.4 GHz licences commenced on 6 June and ended after 41 rounds on 17 June, reaching a most successful conclusion with all 15 licences sold to three bidders. Poundradio had won 13 licences. Red Spectrum had won the Northern Metropolitan licence and Public Hub had won the Southern Provincial licence.
Details of the award process include:
The spectrum will support a range of services such as voice telephony, leased lines and packet data to support basic email and Internet access. The range of radio signals is typically about 10 km.
Stephen Timms, Minister for e-Commerce
and Competitiveness said,
"We are delighted with the outcome of the auction. With all 15 licences
sold, this is another important step in making the UK the most extensive and
competitive market for broadband in the G7.
The aim of the auction was to see the licences in the hands of the operators
best able to take advantage of them, and in turn, to see consumers - including
those in areas currently without ADSL or cable - benefit from fixed wireless
broadband access."
To view the auction website please
click on http://www.spectrumauctions.gov.uk/pfwa/
3.6 to 4.2 GHz (3605 to 3689 MHz paired with 3925 to 4009 MHz)
2 x 36 MHz channels have been made available within these bands for FWA services, subject to co-ordination with fixed satellite users. The allocation is currently used by GX Networks formerly FirstNet, which offers commercial services in Berkshire, the Midlands and Yorkshire and is planning to continue rolling out widely in England, Scotland and Wales by 2003. Its services range from telephony to fast data connections, typically at rates of 384 kbit/s.
RA has developed a technical co-ordination tool called POMCO to manage this allocation.
A consultation will be carried out shortly; this will explore options for making additional spectrum at the 3.6 GHz waveband available for broadband services, and will consider whether spectrum can be used and how the licences could be made available.
5 GHz (5150 to 5875 MHz)
Licence-exempt applications such as radio local area networks (RLANs) are intended to operate in a number of frequency ranges between 5150 MHz and 5875 MHz. These ranges are also under consideration for the provision of FWA services using RLANs.
In September 2002, RA published a consultative document on the proposed Consolidated Wireless Telegraphy Licence-Exemption Regulations; the consultation closed in October. The Regulations, came into force on 12 February 2003, exempt low-power RLANs for both public and private use in the 5 GHz band A (5150 to 5350 MHz) and band B (5470 to 5725 MHz). The new changes to regulations mean that telecoms operators can offer commercial broadband services through public networks without the need for a Wireless Telegraphy Act licence. The deregulation will allow commercial network operators and other public and private users, from schools to hotels, to set up Radio Local Area Networks (RLANs) to operate in parts of the 5 GHz radio spectrum.
As there are already users in band C (5725 to 5875 MHz), sharing studies must be completed before this band can be released. For more information on these issues, visit www.radio.gov.uk/topics/mobiledata/rlans-licence-exempt/rlans-licence-exempt.htm
10 GHz (10.125 – 10.155 GHz)
One operator is licensed to operate FWA services in the 10.195-10.225 to 10.545-10.575 band.
On 19 December 2000, the Agency published a consultative document entitled "3.4 and 10 GHz: Scenarios for Spectrum Packaging and Delivery". The document presented a number of scenarios for packaging and delivering licences to establish and use wireless telegraphy stations and apparatus in the 3.4 and 10 GHz bands for the provision of FWA services (referred to in this paper as "spectrum licences", "licences" or "FWA licences"). However, the award of licences in the 10 GHz band has been decoupled from that of 3.4 GHz while further work is carried out to award licences in the 10 GHz band.
28 GHz (28.0525 to 29.4525 GHz)
RA carried out an auction for 28 GHz broadband wireless local loop licences in November 2000. We offered 42 licences (three in each of 14 regions). The licences held are:
The licensees are at various stages in deploying their networks: in particular, Your Communications is offering broadband to corporate organisations in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and the North of England, including Cumbria. A second award process closed on 14 October 2002 without any more licences having been awarded.
RA published a consultation document on 15 October 2002, proposing a new award process for unsold licences. After considering the responses, the Government has concluded that the Agency should:
Smaller licence regions was discussed at the BFWA Consultation Group meeting, on 4 March 2003 . The Agency subsequently appointed Mason Comunications as market and financial consultants to advise on current market conditions and the scope for re-designing licence regions, including the valuation of licences. Mason Communications have completed their work and the Agency are currrently examining the results of the analysis. We aim to present proposals to industry at Consultation Group meeting to be arranged in October/November 2003.
40 GHz (40.5 to 43.5 GHz)
During the summer of 2002, RA held discussions with a range of interested companies on the scope for developing the 40.5 to 43.5 GHz band for multimedia wireless systems.
The band is a key resource for developing the next generation of broadband services. It has the capacity to deliver very high bandwidth, sufficient to support a number of broadcast services as well as high-capacity two-way telecommunication links such as video on demand and video conferencing. Companies generally supported opening the band, but believed that there would not be a market for services at very high bandwidths for another two or three years.
In the light of these discussions, RA proposes working with industry to develop a licence award process that will meet their requirements for delivering services when market demand emerges. In the interim, we will consider the feasibility of offering commercial trial licences.
A number of technologies covering both equipment and antennas are being standardised in Europe, to provide FWA systems within the framework of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Both co-existence (i.e. no common air interface) and interoperable (i.e. common air interface) standards are being developed within ETSI.
The IEEE group in the US has also developed or is developing FWA standards known as 802.11 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and 802.16 (10 to 60 GHz).
Traditionally, each co-existence standard produced by ETSI has catered for a particular technology in terms of both architecture (e.g. point-to-multipoint) and duplexing method (e.g. frequency division duplexing). However, developments in FWA technology and deployment scenarios have led to ongoing work within ETSI to address how its standards can be made applicable to these developments. The preliminary conclusions are that no additional parameters are required; the standards should "remain silent" where possible on architecture and duplexing method. However, industry recognises that engineering issues will need to be resolved with regard to various technologies sharing the spectrum.
RA supports a technology-neutral approach. However, the spectrum sharing between different systems is continually being discussed within the regulatory process through the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications (CEPT). This is because technology-neutrality can raise sharing issues, rather than suppressing them. As the ETSI standards become more generic in architecture and duplexing method, these issues are continually under review. However, applicants for licences will not be required to declare the technology that they plan to use if their application is successful. Where operation is licence-exempt, compliance to the Interface Requirement (IR) is the only requirement.
In November 2000, a package of measures was announced for the control of potential interference from DSL, power-line technology (PLT) and home LANs. More details can be found at www.radio.gov.uk/topics/broadband_non-radio/index.htm
In July 2002, RA introduced a “lighter-touch” administrative regime for networks of new-generation low-power terminals, used for a broadband return path from the user. A network is defined as a uni- or bi-directional service from any number of terminals to a single geostationary-orbit satellite transponder in the earth-to-space direction. These operate in the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) bands 14.00 to 14.24 GHz, and 29.50 to 30.00 GHz.
Service Providers or Satellite Operators holding a Network Licence (which has replaced the previous very small aperture terminal (VSAT) licence) are able to register any number of small transmitting satellite terminals using an online site-clearance and registration system known as SatClear, which went live on 10 February 2003. https://www.e-licensing.radio.gov.uk/SatClear-web-app/
“Point-to-point” means the relaying of traffic between two points such as a telephone exchange and a mobile phone base station. These links can also support infrastructure requirements for broadband applications and the linking of end users.
For many years, RA has assigned fixed terrestrial point-to-point links to operators who submit an application. Low, medium and high data-rate transmissions can be provided over a range of radio frequencies between 1.4 GHz and 55 GHz. All assignments are made on a co-ordinated basis – with the exception of 58 GHz, which is licence-exempt from 12 February 2003. Most of these fixed links are used for point-to-point infrastructure by mobile telephone operators and others.
Broadband strategy:
Joe Sonke 020 7211 0323
joe.sonke@ra.gsi.gov.uk
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz:
Annette Henley 020 7211 0181
annette.henley@ra.gsi.gov.uk
3.4 GHz and 10 GHz:
Steve Jones 020 7211 0227
steve.jones@ra.gsi.gov.uk
14 GHz and 29 GHz satellite:
Alan Hale 020 7211 0268
alan.hale@ra,gsi.gov.uk
28 GHz and 40 GHz:
Nichola Watts 020 7211 0495
nichola.watts@ra.gsi.gov.uk
Point-to-point fixed links:
Dave Murphy 020 7211 0573
dave.murphy@ra.gsi.gov.uk
The Department of Trade and Industry is the lead Government Department for broadband. As well as a general broadband policy section there is a team looking specifically at rural issues. [Use this link here - http://www.dti.gov.uk/industries/telecoms/broadband.html]
Broadband Task Force is aiming to ensure that public sector broadband procurement is aggregated as much as possible so that the Government’s expenditure on broadband delivers value for money, as well as extending broadband availability more widely.
"The UK Broadband Task Force has published A Wireless Guide for Public Sector Procurers, exploring wireless options for delivering broadband services, particularly as a means of extending affordable coverage to rural and remote communities. It describes the technologies, examines areas of concern such as security, health & safety and planning, and advises on procurement issues such as the regulatory environment, aggregation, funding, and contractual and legal matters. The Guide was prepared in support of the Government's UK Online Broadband Britain initiative"
The Office of the e-Envoy is leading the Government’s drive to get the UK online, and to ensure that its citizens and businesses derive maximum benefit from the knowledge economy.
The Broadband Stakeholder Group is the Government's key advisory group on promoting the roll-out and take-up of broadband. It advises on the strategy for the UK to have the most extensive, competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. Its Second Annual Report and the related Wireless Report are available online.
Oftel, the telecommunications industry regulator, aims to promote competition in the provision of access to the Internet and broadband services, thereby giving consumers greater choice, value and quality and spurring take up. Oftel seeks to match the level of regulation to the level of competition in the market, while continuing to protect and inform consumers where the market cannot do so.
The Communications branch of DTI’s Business Relations Group of DTI works with industry and the science base to improve the global competitiveness of the UK's communications, information and electronics businesses, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the UK economy and improving the quality of life in the UK.
UK online for business is geared to helping success in online business. It provides impartial advice, free publications, business benefits case studies, events, a partnership programme, international research and guidance on ICT. As part of UK online, its overall objective is to make the UK the best place in the world for doing business online.
The Scottish Executive publishes an update on developments in its publications Connecting Scotland: Our Broadband Future and Connecting Scotland: Our Broadband Future – Making It Happen.
The Welsh Assembly produces a Broadband Briefing on its website.
The Department of Enterprise,
Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland produces a website called
Broadbandforbusiness.
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