GSME calls for UHF band to be opened up to mobile and fixed telecoms service (GSM Europe story)
26 February 2007
26th February 2007 - Brussels: GSM Europe has called on the European Commission to define a harmonised sub-band within the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which is currently used for broadcasting analogue television, to be used for fixed and mobile telecoms applications. This is one of the options set out in the Radio Spectrum Policy Group's (RSPG) Opinion on 'EU Spectrum Policy Implications of the Digital Dividend', which examines how UHF spectrum could be used once television broadcasting has become entirely digital within the European Union. The RSPG advises the European Commission on spectrum policy.
The availability of a portion of the UHF band, to be freed after the analogue TV switch-off for non-broadcasting services, could be the key to the provision of innovative and relevant services and applications such as wireless broadband to rural areas. "The propagation characteristics of the band could facilitate the deployment of a mobile communications network reaching sparsely-populated areas uneconomical to cover with systems operating at higher bands to the benefit of consumers inhabiting such areas and ensuring that the digital dividend is used to close the digital divide," said Kaisu Karvala, chair of GSM Europe.
The beneficial propagation characteristics of low frequency spectrum, including the ability for signals to travel further and be less sensitive to obstacles, are well documented. To this end, the spectrum between 300MHz and 1GHz, some of which is to be released as a result of digital switchover, is particularly suited to terrestrial mobile use, including mobile TV, which requires wide area coverage. As Commissioner Viviane Reding has said, wireless services offer "the best hope we have to bridge the digital divide".*
The released UHF spectrum will not be available before 2012 in most European countries and it is currently too early to have a definitive decision in favour of a specific service proposition, such as broadcasting. The allocation of a sub-band for fixed and mobile applications would only require part of the spectrum to be released after the analogue TV switch off.
Further studies are necessary to define the detailed characteristics and conditions of the sub-band and a number of policy actions would be needed at ITU, EU and national level. The first step of this process would be the addition of mobile applications to the list of potential uses of the UHF band at the next World Radio Conference (WRC-07).
* Commissioner Reding speech at ITU "Telecom World 2006", 4 December 2006
About GSM Europe
GSM Europe is the European interest group of the GSM Association, representing 147 members in 50 European countries/areas serving 558 million customers. The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 217 countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's initiatives as key partners.
The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers. The Association's members serve more than 2 billion customers - more than 80% of the world's mobile phone users.
Commissioner Reding speech at ITU "Telecom World 2006", 4 December 2006 www.gsmeurope.org
For further information contact:
David Pringle
GSMA
Tel: +44 795 755 6069
Email: press@gsm.org
GSM Europe
Tel: +32 2 706 81 05
Email: gsme@gsm.org
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