Mobile Spectrum 4 Mbps Broadband across the UK

When the Digital Britain review put forth by the British communications and technology minister, Lord Carter promises the countrymen the implementation of a minimum broadband speed of 2Mbps across the country, with every household enjoying a connection by 2012, his broadband advisor argues that a steady investment in the next generation mobile broadband networks instead, would ensure the speeds of 4Mbpsin general apart from above 50Mbps in urban areas

Kip Meek, the broadband advisor to Lord Carter, has revealed his ideas in his final Independent Spectrum Broker report that was released on Wednesday. He also argues that the auction and the re-division of mobile spectrum frequency rights amidst telcos could effectuate a faster as well as smoother transition to the next generation broadband than seemed possible, an year back. However, he also warns of a tricky business that was to involve telcos offering access to their frequencies to rivals as well by fixing a limit on how much each mobile service provider can buy.

Meek has also forwarded some steps to break the deadlock. Among the proposed plans, the most significant whatsoever is that Vodafone and O2, the existing custodians of the 900MHz spectrum, would have to part with some of their prized possession if they wanted to bid for the 80MHz spectrum that would be freed when the analogue television network will be converted into digital.

Other measures advocated by Meek to ward off the hindrances are; the engagement of the superfast 2.6GHz band to the most advanced mobile technologies such as the WiMAX, and the signing up of the future custodians of the 800MHz spectrum to a ‘specific speed-based basic national coverage obligation’.