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New rulings from the European Parliament have placed new urgency on the allocation of 4G services, telling member nations that they must have “authorised the use” of the two main 4G spectrums by January 1st 2013.
The EU’s guidelines on the matter specifically refer to the 800MHz spectrum, saying: “By 1 January 2013, all Member States (unless an individual exemption has been obtained before that date), should have authorised the use of the 800 MHz band for wireless broadband communications.”
The 800MHz band is the key one for the UK’s 4G plans, as this covers a longer range than the 2.6GHz frequencies, which should help bring faster broadband connections to some currently offline rural UK notspots and maybe, eventually, help the UK and Ofcom hit that 98 per cent coverage ambition. [EU via TNW]
Image credit: Mobile mast from Shutterstock
Note the “unless an individual exemption has been obtained before that date” get out clause. Basically the EU is saying “YOU WILL DO THIS (unless you ask us to let you off)” I’d like to know more about the rules covering exemptions. Will Greece and the other broke countries get an exemption on the grounds they can’t afford this for instance?
From what I understood, the UK government stands to make a bucketload of cash from selling off the 4G spectrum. So I don’t think Greece could get away with it on economic grounds. Authorising the spectrum is different to actually installing gear to broadcast on it.
True, but before you can sell off the spectrum you have to clear it (assuming you are currently using it). A changeover like the one we are currently undergoing (from analogue to digital TV) does have cost implications. If Greece has not started the process, they may not have budgeted for it and probably can’t afford to do now.
Don’t worry everyone in Greece will have sold all their TVs for food by then so the Spectrum will become free!