Mobile Broadband to be the Perfect Alternative to Fixed Line Broadband
The mobile operator and UK ISP 3 said that if outstanding spectrum disputes were solved, mobile broadband could, without state funding, bridge the gaps mentioned in the proposed 2Mbps universal broadband commitment of the UK government.
The director of corporate affairs at 3, Hugh Davies commented on Thursday that the discussions around the release of low frequency spectrum that could be engaged to help roll out mobile broadband in rural areas, owing to their superior range, were still edgy. He added that due to the low returns pertinent to the mobile broadband rollout in sparsely populated areas, many rural areas in the country were badly served by both mobile and fixed broadband operators.
At a Westminster eForum on the Digital Britain report, Davies said to the delegates that if they could come to an agreement on the spectrum issues, they could fund the rollout as well. He also went on to claim that they did not need any extra funding, as they believed that they could find the opportunities to build the business.
At present, the approach of refarming the 2G spectrum that is of a lower frequency than the present 3G spectrum, for the 3G service rollout has been backed by both the European Commission and Ofcom. However, the talks led to an impasse due to the disputes prevailing between opertators, some of whom already enjoyed lower frequencies than others. The delaying of the 2.6 Ghz band auction that in its turn would had opened the floodgates to the engagement of LTE technology, the transcendent version of the 3G, has been brought about by the above mentioned situation.
Meanwhile, the Digital Britain report had put forth two broadband fund proposals; one for the next generation broadband access rollout and the other for a 2Mbps universal broadband coverage. The 2Mbps broadband for all programme, as per the Digital Britain proposal, would be funded by the money left over from the digital switchover, as the funding of the next gen broadband rollout would bank on a 50p a month levy on every copper phone connection.
The eForum held on Thursday also saw a complaint – from BT about the proposals for enabling wireless operators to draw on the proposed 50p levy, against high-speed broadband service provision. Emma Gilthorpe, the policy and regulation chief at BT complained that fund taxing the fixed-line customers was benefiting wireless operators, as it had to be benefiting the fixed-line suppliers rolling out fibre optic network.
Amidst all the discrepancies in view points, a suggestion from the communications consumer panel’s Anna Bradley too caught the attention of many. Her point was that there was chances that the people stepped back from signing up to fixed lines in favour of going mobile, as a consequence of the proposed 50p levy.
