There has been a push to sell off unused radio spectrum to
facilitate the delivery of broadband data services. The head of
telecoms watchdog, David Edmonds, called for the move in order to
increase expansion of broadband networks.
Edmonds said:
“An important component of increased network
competition is ready access to radio spectrum. Freeing up access to
radio spectrum has the potential to allow both greater usage of
existing infrastructure and expansion and development of other
networks and delivery systems.”
Edmonds called for organisations owning surplus spectrum to
offer it to the highest bidder. He outlined his view that utilising
such spectrum will be imperative to enable multimedia convergence
by broadcasters, carriers and service providers. His comments come
at a time when the new regulatory body Ofcom, to be launched by the
end of 2003, is in focus in terms of establishing its precise
regulatory powers.
Ofcom will incorporate the roles of Oftel, the Broadcasting
Standards Commmission, the Independent Television Commission, the
Radio Authority and the Radio Communications Agency. Edmonds said
that the independence of Ofcom should be paramount and that it
should provide a regulatory framework for businesses that is both
clear and predictable in order to act in the consumers interest and
handle issues of multimedia convergence.
