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

PolicyTracker May 2006

Our theme this month is technology and service neutral licensing - click here to download the whole issue as a pdf or use the links below to read individual stories:

The EU’s first roadmap for full liberalisation Slotting in the final piece of the liberalisation jigsaw could be worth nearly £1bn a year says Ofcom, which is proposing technology and service neutral licences.

No need for more licence-exempt spectrum There is no congestion of the unlicensed bands according to the preliminary findings of an EC-commissioned study into the collective use of spectrum. Radio mics: Casualties of switchover? Could digital TV cost the entertainment industries millions? Liberalisation means tackling interference Countries relying on self-regulation place an unfair burden on industry says a new book

Liberalisation pioneer fails to close legal loopholes Ten years on and Guatemala’s public service broadcasters are in a legal no man’s land Financial incentives overcome resistance to mobile phones on aircraft Europe outstrips US in setting a regulatory framework Can 3G spectrum auctions save US budget deficit? US government accused of using spectrum as a cash cow 12 companies win UK low power mobile spectrum Ofcom has announced the results of its first spectrum auction

PolicyTracker April 2006

2.5 GHz special report: 3G or technology neutrality?

Commission admits defeat Regulators can't agree on a proposal to allow WiMAX Europe-wide access to 2.5 GHz Europe divided, Asia takes the lead South Korea will soon tell us whether the 2.5 GHz stalemate really matters. Time to call the lawyers? Are there grounds for legal action over the allocation of 2.5 GHz? Digital dividend A clear picture has yet to emerge Business plans are hit by the difficulties of predicting the pattern of frequency release. Non-broadcasters could face a long wait New services may not get fresh spectrum for several years. Other news

Forget about the politics! Progress on UWB in Europe depends on judging the technology by its own merits. European Commission lends strong support to RFID tags Orwellian or an aid to better customer relations? Intelligent cars sans spectrum Given frequency constraints can safety be guaranteed? UK’s first mobile TV spectrum up for auction in 2007 Huge interested expected in L-band licences Impasse reached on powerline emissions Work on a network emission standard has been suspended until “new technology” is in place.