[kictanet] EU to Open Up Mobile Spectrum

[Alex Gakuru]

[BUSINESSWEEK]

<http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2007/gb20070727_798976.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily>
EU to Open Up Mobile Spectrum
To encourage innovation in telecommunications, radio
spectrum previously reserved for GMS mobile networks
may be freed up
Tim Ferguson
July 27, 2007

The European Commission (EC) has proposed the removal
of restrictions on the radio spectrum previously used
solely for GSM mobile phone networks.

The proposals include the repeal of the 1987 GSM
Directive which allocated the 900MHz-1800MHz spectrum
to GSM services only.

The move is aimed at making it easier and more
lucrative for operators to develop innovative wireless
technologies such as 3G, mobile data or multimedia
services.

European telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding said the
EU needs to remove regulatory barriers and allow new
tech to share the spectrum. This will be a "concrete
step" towards a more "flexible market-driven approach"
to spectrum management, she said.

This should mean a greater choice of wireless services
available to European citizens and should also expand
the geographical coverage of mobile networks. Another
benefit could be reduced network deployment costs for
the wireless communications industry as it will remove
the need to develop services on other spectrums.

It has been estimated that the wireless comms industry
could save up to 40 per cent in cumulative capital
expenditure over five years if the proposals come to
fruition.

Mike Grant, head of broadband and media at consultancy
Analysys told silicon.com: "This is an interesting
move by the Commission. One of the reasons is that
technology is now allowing use of spectrum in a way
previously not possible."

He added the move is "a helpful step forward".

Mark Blowers, senior research analyst at the Butler
Group, agreed. He said the EC is being more pragmatic:
"To my mind, that's a good thing."

The European Commission expects the measures to be in
place by the end of the year. 
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