Qualcomm buys the whole of L-Band in the UK

The US-based wireless technology company, Qualcomm, has bought all 17 lots in the UK's 1452-1479.5 MHz auction for a total of £8,334,000 (10.7 million euros). The auction took five days and ended after 32 rounds.

The result is notable in that none of the other companies involved acquired any spectrum at all. The seven losing bidders were Adolphus, Arqiva, ePortal Holding K.S.C., MLL Telecom, The Joint Radio Company,Vectone Network and WorldSpace UK.

Read the full details at:

http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=741

Australian public sector spectrum review recommends more liberalization

Australian government spectrum use could be more transparent and more efficient says an independent review which also recommends increased use of market mechanisms and more sharing.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) commissioned the "Independent Review of Government Spectrum Holdings" report to assist it to find an appropriate balance between government use of the radiofrequency spectrum and its use by the broader business community.

Read the full details at:

http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=740

Swedish auction is Intel's first European spectrum purchase

The sale of 2.6GHz in Sweden has raised considerably more than a similar auction in Norway. Will we now see more spectrum purchases by manufacturers seeking to boost the sales of their products?

Looking at the results of the Norwegian 2.6GHz auction in November 2007 PolicyTracker calculated that if the Swedish spectrum were sold at the same rate, then the total proceeds would be about €56M. In fact the Swedish 2.6GHz auction raised €226.

Read the full details at:

http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=739

Consensus emerging on telecoms framework review

MEPs and the Council of ministers appear to have rejected the Commission's proposals to set up a pan-European regulator but seem to support a gradual adoption of spectrum flexibility provided broadcasters interests can be protected.

The European Parliament and the EU Council of ministers are keen to see a smooth reform of EU telecommunications rules to be adopted in late 2009 and the co-legislating EU institutions seem to be on the same track when it comes to the main issues of this new "telecoms package" proposed by the European Commission last November.

Read the full details at:

http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=738

Swedish 2.6GHz auction raises 226M euros

After 16 days and 112 rounds of bidding Sweden's second internet spectrum auction has closed, with all the licences sold and several big names among the winners.

These are technology and service neutral licences but are most likely to be used for mobile telephony or wireless broadband. The auction was conducted by the regulator PTS and the winners have to pay PTS an administrative charge of 25,000 Swedish Krona (SEK) per MHz.

Read the full details at:

http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=737

WiMAX lobby hails adoption of provisional 2.6GHz standard

WiMAX proponents are claiming a victory following a two and a half year struggle to get a 2.6GHz harmonised standard approved by European standards body ETSI.

Today (May 7) sees the launch of a 120-day consultation process, which ETSI is calling a public inquiry. While the inquiry is going on vendors will be able to make equipment for the European market based on the provisional standard which had to be adopted before the consultation could take place.

Read the full details at:

http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=736

May 2008 printed issue available for download

This month's issue is bigger than usual and includes a special report on public sector spectrum.

As Europe's regulators and a group of consultants commissioned by Brussels try to find ways of improving public sector spectrum efficiency we examine the likelihood of frequency release and look at the progress made in the Netherlands.

Read the full details at:

http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=735