Outlook for 2007: satellite

The coming year will be crucial for satellite operators seeking to safeguard their access to spectrum.

Influencing the agenda of the 2007 World Radio Conference is likely to remain one of the satellite industry’s key priorities. Satellite operators fear that allocating 3.4-4.2GHz to other mobile users in Europe could interfere with the sensitive equipment of the FSS currently active in the band

Read the full details at: http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=490

Outlook for 2007: GSM on aircraft

In the first 'proper' working week of the New Year PolicyTracker will be examining the prospects for some of the policy debates which have dominated the past few months. Our first topic is creating the regulatory environment for using mobiles on planes.

Read the full details by registering here

Digital dividend review: defiantly pro-market

Ofcom’s long awaited study on using the frequencies released by analogue TV switch off has ruled out giving special treatment to public service broadcasters wanting to provide terrestrial high definition television. Read the full article here

Commission paves the way for mobile TV via satellite

The satellite sector looks set to benefit from the harmonised use of 2GHz for the provision of mobile satellite services but with several projects vying for a limited chunk of this spectrum, not everybody is going to be a winner.

Read the full article here

Sceptical reaction to claims that liberalisation will cut mobile revenues by €244 Bn

Moving from harmonisation to liberalisation will damage the mobile ecosystem and the interests of consumers claims a report for the UMTS Forum. But not everyone is convinced, as Pamela Whitby reports.

Any research backed by a body representing the interests of a particular sector of industry must be taken with a pinch of salt. Although the Booz Allen Hamilton study conducted on behalf of the UMTS Forum is no exception, one cannot ignore the claim that a harmonised approach will result in an increase of EUR 244 billion in consumer purchasing power and 37 per cent higher growth in end user penetration over the next 15 years.

Read the full article here.

Digital Dividend Review: Ofcom fails to placate PMSE sector

Ofcom say they have made every effort to protect wireless microphone users in planning for digital switch over but industry fears remain.

There can be little doubt that releasing 112 MHz of prime spectrum will be a boost for UK plc, particularly when demand is growing at 10-20% per annum. Ofcom estimates that the value to the economy will be £5-10 billion over 20 years, ignoring any treasury income from auctions. However, there may be losers as well as winners among the range of industries using or seeking to use the analogue TV frequencies.

Read the full story here

Audio interview about Ofcom’s Digital Dividend Review

Philip Rutnam, Ofcom’s Partner for the Spectrum Policy Group discusses the key issues raised by the regulator's plan for re-using the analogue TV spectrum.

He is speaking to Martin Sims from PolicyTracker and starts by discussing the decision not to reserve digital dividend spectrum for broadcasters to use for HDTV.

Hear the interview by registering here