[kictanet] [AfrISPA.Discuss] Fwd: [TIER] UN agreement on freeing spectrum for wireless

[Badru Ntege]

Interesting 

 

This was a topic of an interesting debate at one of the sessions at the
recently concluded IGF in Rio.  With broadcasters trying to claim the
spectrum.  

 

However it's a pitty that in Africa where we need this capacity more we have
chosen to wait till 2015.

 

From: Discuss-owner at afrispa.org [mailto:Discuss-owner at afrispa.org] On Behalf
Of Eric Osiakwan
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:57 AM
To: discuss at afrispa.org; African Information Society Initiative - Discussion
Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Fwd: [TIER] UN agreement on freeing spectrum for
wireless

 

fyi

 

Begin forwarded message:





From: Jennifer Bussell <jbussell at berkeley.edu>

Date: 19 November 2007 19:54:38 GMT+03:00

To: TIER <tier at tier.cs.berkeley.edu>

Subject: [TIER] UN agreement on freeing spectrum for wireless

 

 

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2ece0dd2-962c-11dc-b7ec-0000779fd2ac.html

Radio spectrum freed for mobiles

By Frances Williams in Geneva

Published: November 19 2007 01:23 | Last updated: November 19 2007 01:23

Valuable radio spectrum now used mainly by broadcasters is to be opened up
to broadband services offered by mobile phone operators under a United
Nations agreement endorsed on Friday by governments from over 160 countries.

For the first time, the decision will provide a common chunk of spectrum for
mobile broadband services globally, boosting the market for new wireless
technologies. It is also expected to reduce significantly the cost of
expanding mobile networks in poor or predominantly rural nations.

The accord follows a month-long diplomatic conference that pitted
traditional broadcasters against mobile phone operators in a battle over who
should benefit from the "digital dividend" provided by the continuing switch
from analogue to digital television.

Digital signals require much less bandwidth, freeing space in the coveted
ultra-high frequency (UHF) band, which has been the almost exclusive
preserve of broadcasters.

Mobile phone companies have pushed for access to the UHF band for two
reasons. One is that the quality signals support high-speed mobile broadband
connections, enabling faster downloads of data and video to mobile devices
and encouraging the development of new internet-based services.

The other is that UHF signals can penetrate buildings and travel long
distances, so fewer base stations are required for coverage of large areas,
cheapening the cost of rolling out wireless broadband networks.

Under the deal, the Americas and much of Asia, including China and India,
will open up the 698-806 Megahertz band to mobile wireless broadband
services between now and 2015 as the transition from analogue to digital
television proceeds.

In Europe, Africa and the Middle East, where broadcasters have retained a
bigger share of UHF spectrum, only the 790-862 Megahertz band will be
available for mobile wireless broadband and not before 2015.

Copyright <http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/copyright>  The Financial
Times Limited 2007

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Eric M.K Osiakwan

Executive Secretary

AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org)

Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031

Fax: + 233.21.258811

Cell: + 233.244.386792

Handle: eosiakwan

Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North

Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North

Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/

Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

 

 





 

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