PolicyTracker July 2006

Commission proposes single European spectrum regulator The communications framework review - published today - contains familiar proposals, including trading and service and technology neutrality, but the unexpected bombshell is the creation of a pan-European spectrum regulator. Trading comes to France and Germany (audio available) Europe is taking an important step towards spectrum liberalisation with Germany and France announcing that they will gradually introduce the ability to independently trade spectrum licences. ____________ RRC-06 special report Europe clears way for non-broadcast applications in TV bands RRC-06 may be criticised as inefficient and outdated, but a declaration agreed towards the end of the proceedings could see European countries forging ahead with non-TV services in the UHF spectrum. RRC-06 plan delivers the goods for broadcasting services The results of the Regional Radio Conference of 2006 may look 'promising' but whether the compromise agreement for flexible use of frequency allocations for non-broadcast purposes goes far enough, remains to be seen. Analogue equipment dumping could delay switchover Digital switchover in parts of Region 1 of the International Telecommunication Union could be delayed if richer countries are not curtailed from dumping analogue equipment in poorer areas. ____________ Standards battle over RFID tags likely Tumbling costs may have caused an explosion of Radio Frequency Identification tags in recent years, but problems with international compatibility, interference and privacy remain. Ubiquitous communications possible but not before 2020 The "Utopian dream" of a fully fledged cognitive network may be possible within fifteen years but not before a complex jigsaw of technical, policy and legal challenges is pieced together. Norwegian DTT network sparks competition concerns Norway’s protracted debate over the building of a DTT network is over but concerns remain over the Culture Ministry’s role in granting the concession to a consortium part-owned by NRK, the state-funded broadcaster. Liberaliser offers limited flexibility in emergency band Norway is inviting commercial applications for a TETRA licence which in most other European countries is allocated to the police or emergency services. Chinese authorities walk out of ballot resolution meeting Tensions are mounting at the ballot resolution meeting for the existing international WLAN security standard 8802-11 which got underway in Prague this week. Will Ofcom's spectrum usage rights deliver? With the closure of its consultation this week, Ofcom edges a step closer to defining spectrum usage rights. Here Australia's Michael Whittaker explains why he thinks the UK's communications regulator is barking up the wrong tree.