Brussels faces divisions over spectrum

Europe’s policy makers are struggling to overcome differences of opinion on both the 700 MHz and 2 GHz bands.

After nine months of waiting, Europe’s spectrum management community now knows the basis of what everyone can agree on – not a lot.

Neelie Kroes received a long-anticipated (and slightly late) report on the future of the UHF band on Monday. It was supposed to be agreed upon by a “High Level Group” of industry executives, but they did not reach a consensus, so the chairman Pascal Lamy had to present compromise proposals.

These centred on the co-called “2020-2030-2025” formula. This means the 700 MHz band should be allocated to mobile broadband by more or less 2020, that broadcasters can keep the rest of the band until 2030, but that future developments will be informed by a review undertaken by 2025. At a press conference he blamed the failure to find consensus on “political sensitivities”.

On the same day, the European Commission (EC) issued a report on its spectrum inventory project. The document laments the under-use of the 2 x 30 MHz mobile satellite service allocation in the 2 GHz band. It raises the possibility of these bands being considered for terrestrial wireless broadband if the licence holders (Inmarsat and Solaris) fail to implement their plans for the spectrum.

But as we reported yesterday, the Commission itself is struggling to decide whether Inmarsat can roll out its Aero CGC proposals for the band because of strong German opposition on an EC committee.

Faced by an industry that is so divided over such important issues, it is hardly surprising that the Commission is struggling to impose its vision of a single European telecoms market.

Toby Youell, PolicyTracker

4/9/2014