Wants to see “sufficient” spectrum for mobile broadband in digital dividend spectrum
The European Commission has proposed that EU governments “open up” 800MHz spectrum to mobile broadband use by the 1 January 2013.It is also proposing that all countries have provided licenses for the use of already harmonised spectrum (900/100MHz, 2,5GHz, 3.4-3.8GHz) for mobile broadband services by the end of 2012.
That appears to open up the prospect of widescale spectrum refarming across the EU, as all the current main bands are made available for mobile broadband.
The proposals are part of a five year policy proposed by the EC for planning and harmonising the use of the EU’s radio spectrum. The proposals must be adopted by the EU Parliament and Council of Ministers.
An EC statements said, “Wireless broadband is essential to deliver the target of broadband for all by 2013, one of the key goals of the Digital Agenda for Europe.”
The EC proposal continued:
“The top priority is to earmark sufficient spectrum for wireless services, including broadband. The Commission proposes that EU countries should complete by 2012 the process of giving licences to operators to use spectrum bands which have already been technically harmonised at EU level for the use of wireless broadband, (the 900/1800 MHz bands, the 2.5 GHz band and the 3.4 – 3.8 GHz band). In addition, EU countries are asked to open up the 800 MHz band (see IP/10/540) to wireless broadband by 1st January 2013, while foreseeing possible derogations until 2015 in exceptional cases.”
The statement doesn’t seem to suggest how much spectrum will be opened up in the 800MHz bank, save for asking for “sufficient spectrum”. That reflects the wording of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group in its June 2010 opinion on the harmonized allocation of digital dividend spectrum for non-broadcasting purposes.