You are here: silicon.com > Networks > Mobile & Wireless

Mobile & Wireless

Broadband wireless gets spectrum boost

Mega-wireless links get green light from watchdog

Tags: wifi

By Steve Ranger

Published: 10 November 2006 12:50 GMT

More of the ether will be made available for broadband fixed wireless links, communications watchdog Ofcom has decided.

Ofcom plans to open up more spectrum for very high capacity point-to-point wireless links.

silicon.com's A to Z of Broadband

Click on the links below to find out everything you ever needed to know about broadband...

A is for ADSL
B is for BT
C is for Cable & Wireless
D is for Dial-up
E is for Education
F is for Fibre
G is for Goonhilly
H is for HSDPA
I is for In-flight
J is for Janet
K is for Kingston
L is for Landlines
M is for Murdoch
N is for Next generation
O is for Ofcom
P is for Power lines
Q is for Quad-play
R is for Remote working
S is for Satellite phones
T is for Trains
U is for Unbundling
V is for VoIP
W is for WiMax
X is for Xbox
Y is for YouTube
Z is for Zombies

The links could potentially be used as alternatives to fibre-optic cable, with possible data speeds ranging from 1Gbps to 10Gbps over distances of one to two kilometres.

By comparison, traditional copper lines can usually offer connection speeds of between one and 24Mbps.

The watchdog said the spectrum is not currently in commercial use but that "technological developments" have opened up the possibility of new applications for these higher-frequency bands.

The high bandwidth combined with narrow-beam signal technology means a very large number of broadband users can co-exist on the spectrum without interference, Ofcom said.

Ofcom said the spectrum - due to be made available from spring 2007 - will be licensed rather than auctioned, as demand for the frequencies is unlikely to exceed supply.

It will offer registration on a first come, first served basis, with licensees paying £50 per link per year. The licences will be tradeable and licence holders themselves will be responsible for managing any interference issues between links.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

Read and write about internet access at the airports of the world at atlarge.com.

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: How the telcos could save themselves Doomed network operators could thrive with a bit of innovation

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: Facebook saves teen from prison Another unexpected impact of social networking


  • Jobs
Principal Telecoms Consultant (Network Rail/LUL Background)

Displays) -PHP (Public Help Point) -Networking Cable/Fibre -Direct Telephones Desirables: Building Management Access Control Radio Systems EMC Signal ...

Network Consultant

Network Design, Network Storage technologies (NAS & SAN), Streaming Protocols (RTP & RTSP), Content Delivery Networks (CDN), File Storage (NFS / CIFS ...

Site Supervisor (Satellite Earth Station Installations)

Additional Electrical IEEE and mechanical skills Tempest exp Candidates to hold a full UK Driving Licence A good understanding of Satellite Earth ...

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: