|
Strategy for the Future Use of the Radio Spectrum in the UK (2000) |
Foreword by:Patricia Hewitt MP, Minister for Small Business and E-Commerce |
 |
As the information society continues to develop at a breathtaking pace, the task of managing the radio spectrum becomes ever more complex and its importance for the nation ever greater. As I write this, the world's first auction for third generation mobile telephony spectrum is in progress at the Radiocommunications Agency's headquarters. It is already clear that, whatever the outcome, there is strong world-wide interest in providing the next generation of mobile telephone services to UK consumers and that this will be a major contribution to the Government's objective of making the UK the best place in the world for e-commerce. The current second generation operators have also recently announced plans to provide mobile internet access through mobile phones. In the last year, the number of mobile telephone subscribers in the UK has risen by around 80%.
The knowledge economy is transforming almost every area of our lives - business, education, public services and leisure - with a speed that would have been unthinkable even a few years ago. The radio spectrum is the raw material without which this revolution would not be possible. As we enter the broadband age, wireless will deliver high capacity services on the move and to less urbanised areas and will also provide an alternative medium to wired systems for delivering broadband to the home, adding competition in the last mile and helping to bring down prices.
The spectrum is a finite resource and the pressure on it is constantly growing as society's demands for mobility continue to accelerate. Its management is also becoming more complex as technological convergence blurs the distinction between computing, broadcasting and telecommunications. We need to ensure that spectrum is used in the best possible way so as to make spectrum available for exciting new services as well as existing ones.
The Spectrum Strategy sets out a comprehensive picture of how spectrum is currently used in the UK and how we expect this to develop in the years ahead. It also describes the new tools, including auctions, spectrum pricing and trading which we have introduced or plan to introduce to enable us to manage the spectrum more effectively.
Such is the pace of change that the situation described in this document will not remain static for long. We in Government have no monopoly of wisdom about the future and we seek to manage the spectrum through constant dialogue with users. Publication of the Strategy forms an important part of that dialogue. Its purpose is not just to inform users about anticipated changes in the spectrum management but also to consult them. I hope that many of you will respond to the invitation to comment. Your input is vital if the spectrum is to be managed effectively to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
March 2000 |
 |
