Following Intellect’s successful 4G Mobile Broadband conference, I would like to thank our speakers and panellists for their enlightening and provoking presentations and insights during the panel discussions.

Our day was kicked off by John Higgins who introduced John Woodget of Intel, followed by H Nwana of Ofcom and Frank Mather of the European Commission.

John Woodget spoke about the service provider sector - particularly the need for the industry to regain leadership. Intel believes this can be facilitated by a number of measures including; swift release of spectrum, development of longer term strategies, regaining international influence and the promotion of UK industry. (more…)

Technorati Tags: 4G, Adam Pollard, Analysis Mason, Android, Andy Nuttal, Apple, Blue Nowhere, DCMS, Dr Matt Yardley, Ed Vaizey, EU, European Commission, Everything Everywhere, Google, H Nwana, ICT KTN, Intel, intellect, iPhone, John Woodget, Kip Meek, LTE, mobile broadband, mobile network operators, Ofcom, Peter Curnow-Ford, Philip Hargrave, Skype, Stephen Lerner, Three, Vodafone, Wimax

Ofcom has made its much awaited announcement of its consultation on its plans to implement the UK auctions of spectrum in 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz for fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband applications. Reading through the consultation document, it is clear that the Ofcom is considering some interesting features for the auction scheduled for Q1 2012. These include, spectrum ‘floors’ (minimum spectrum limits) spectrum ‘caps’ (maximum amount allowable), coverage obligations, on one of the 800 MHz licences, enabling sub –national licensees, possibility of spectrum sharing via low power use etc. One of the advantages of being quite late to implement these auctions is that the UK can learn the lessons from earlier 4 G spectrum auctions that have taken place elsewhere in the last three or four years. (more…)

Technorati Tags: 4G, Add new tag, mobile broadband, Ofcom, Spectrum, Wireless

The government plans to direct Ofcom (the first it has ever done this) to implement the, glamorously titled, Wireless Spectrum Modernisation Programme. Through it, The Digital Dividend is about to become a reality, as analogue TV is switched off by the end of 2011. You, civil servants, parliamentarians and their researchers look on, slightly bemused, as those of us who live and breathe spectrum (it is thin air after all…) thrash out the GHz, the MHz, The LTE’s, The WiMax, the DVB T2’s, and all that go with them. All too often, the debate bypasses why these kinds of issues are crucial to Mr. Joe Voter, why real parliamentary engagement is so important and why UK Citizens need representation. Part of this process is making these issues understandable for those representatives.

So why is spectrum, and by implication the digital dividend, so important to your every day man, or woman, on the street? (more…)

Technorati Tags: 4G, Broadband, digital britain, Digital Dividend, Digital Economy Bill, Digital Switchover, NGA, Ofcom, Spectrum, Wireless, Wireless Spectrum Modernisation Programme