UMTS Forum Wants SpectrumUMTS Forum Wants Spectrum

UMTS Forum: Governments must allocate more spectrum now for mobile broadband

October 30, 2007

1 Min Read

GENEVA -- Addressing delegates and representatives of national administrations at this year’s ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07), UMTS Forum Chairman Jean-Pierre Bienaimé emphasized the need for timely allocation of sufficient harmonized spectrum to support current and future demand for mobile broadband services.

A four-year postponement of crucial decisions until the next WRC in 2011, warned Bienaimé, would delay a new generation of high bit-rate mobile services.

Under Agenda Item 1.4 at WRC-07, the UMTS Forum is urging administrations to support the identification of additional globally-harmonised frequencies to enable cost-effective coverage extension for IMT-2000, as well as meeting future capacity demand for extremely high data-rate IMT-Advanced services.

Digital dividend from UHF frequencies can provide cost-effective coverage

Firstly, the UMTS Forum is supporting the harmonisation of around 100MHz of frequencies in the UHF band to augment existing allocations of spectrum for IMT in lower bands. These frequencies could be released with the coming switch-over from analogue to more efficient digital TV broadcasting – the so-called ‘digital dividend’.

At these lower frequencies, mobile services can be delivered cost-effectively for wide areas. These low frequencies also provide improved in-building coverage. This will be of immense value, especially in outlying rural regions where many people are still deprived of basic access to voice and Internet services.

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