Ofcom will have six months from October to finalise the release
of 900MHz spectrum now held by Vodafone and O2 to comply with new
EU rules on spectrum allocations.
Yesterday, Europe took a key step towards enabling new mobile
services such as faster mobile internet in the 900MHz band - the
so-called GSM band.
The decision rationalises the 900MHz frequency band throughout
Europe, a crucial step to enabling faster internet connections that
use mobile telephony throughout the Continent.
Ofcom has been renegotiating the reallocation of parts of the
band held by Vodafone and O2 as part of the Digital Britain goal to
make a 2Mbps connection available to all UK homes by 2012.
Negotiator Kip Meek had been unable to get agreement, and
published recommendations on next steps. Now there is a
deadline.
Yesterday, the European Council of Ministers followed the
European Parliament in approving a proposal from the European
Commission to modernise the so-called GSM Directive of 1987. This
reserved part of the 900MHz frequency band to GSM mobile
telephony.
The updated directive now allows the band to be rationalised,
paving the way for faster, pan-European services such as mobile
internet, while ensuring the continuation of GSM services.
The new deal will save network operators an estimated 1.6bn
euros from lower capital costs from using lower frequencies for
high-speed traffic. This should foster stronger competition and
contribute to faster and wider roll-out of wireless broadband
services in Europe, the commission said.
The reformed GSM directive was one of several in the telecoms
sector being renegotiated to pave the way for a stronger wireless
economy.
Communications commissioner Viviane Reding said GSM had been a
success story for Europe, where it was born. "By updating the GSM
directive, the EU has paved the way for a new generation of
services and technologies where Europe can be a world leader," she
said.
Consumers' existing GSM handsets will continue to work, but they
will also be able to use new technologies to access high-speed
broadband services.