PolicyTracker June 2006

Appeal launched against ISO's rejection of Chinese wireless standard China has made serious allegations against the IEEE in what is being called a last ditch attempt to secure a place on the global stage for WAPI, their own wireless LAN security standard. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=358 Editorial: the first of many battles? The WAPI dispute reflects China's strategy for economic growth - developing homegrown technologies http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=361 There is also a special report on RRC-06, which is coming to a close in Geneva: Sparks fly at RRC-06 over technology neutrality One of the central policy objectives of the European Commission is said to be coming under pressure at the Regional Radio Conference in Geneva where now, in the third week, the discussions are beginning to hot up. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=365 A foretaste of the political battles to come over the digital dividend As regulators plan broadcasting frequency allocations for the digital age it is becoming clear that there will be substantial pressure to allocate the released frequencies to terrestrial High Definition Television. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=356 European Parliament to investigate digital dividend (Audio available) The industry, research and energy (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament is to hold a hearing on allocating the frequencies released by analogue TV switch off. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=349 Opinion: into the brave new digital world Our expert commentator asks whether allocating the digital dividend can be left completely to the market. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=359 Other stories: France takes the lead in GSM re-farming It is technically possible to use the GSM bands for 3G says the European regulators organisation, CEPT, but so far only France has agreed to do this and a consistent EU approach seems unlikely. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=364 Rumbles of discontent as new occupants moved into L-band Mobile TV is transforming spectrum planning in Europe as regulators seek to open up L-band, currently harmonised for terrestrial and satellite DAB. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=362 Setting a dangerous precedent? The growing interest in using C-band for UMTS or wireless broadband is ringing alarm bells for satellite operators. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=347 Digital TV battle in Norway settled After long and hard negotiations the concession to build Norway's new digital television network has gone to NTV, owned jointly by the three terrestrial channels. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=363