News


Ofcom ruling triggers 4G launch A


F


ollowing Ofcom’s deci- sion to allow Everything Everywhere to operate 4G


wireless in its 1800 MHz spectrum slot, the company has revealed plans to launch a fast LTE service in 16 cities by Christmas. Operat- ing under its new name, EE, it will initially bring coverage to 20 million people – one-third of the population – but in an accelerating nationwide roll-out during next year it will aim to achieve 98 per cent UK population coverage in 2014.


forward to connecting the country with superfast mobile speeds in the coming weeks, months and years.” Already the fi rst four cities


– London, Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham – have been switched on to allow EE’s engineers to begin live testing and systems integra- tion, in readiness for the customer launch. Next to follow are Bristol, Derby, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffi eld and South- ampton.


‘Startling’


Commenting on Ofcom’s licensing decision, Patrick Clark, head of telecoms at the international law fi rm, Taylor Wessings, said: “T is is a brave move on the part of


At the same time, EE will extend


fi bre broadband services to reach more than 11 million households and businesses by end of this year. “Our plans to revolutionize the


UK communications market with a faster network and an exciting new brand for the digital age are built on solid investment and a simple belief that customers deserve better”, said Olaf Swantee, chief executive of EE. “We look


Ofcom, which will give Everything Everywhere an eff ective monopoly on 4G/LTE services for at least a year until the completion of the 4G spectrum auctions which are due to be held early next year.” Morgan Mullooly, spectrum specialist at Analysys Mason, said: “Ofcom’s decision is really rather startling – if not completely unexpected.


“T e inertia in actually getting


to the 800 MHz/2600 MHz auc- tion (because of the challenge of getting the rules right, dealing with potential interference mitigation issues, and keeping fi ve mobile operators happy) seemed to be making Ofcom impatient... T is decision gives Everything Every- where a fi rst mover advantage of at


Nokia’s new top-of-the-range Lumia 920 is one of the fi rst batch of phones to be offered by EE for its pioneering LTE service. Running the Windows 8 mobile operating system, it takes photos claimed to be of SLR camera quality and can be charged wirelessly. Beside it is Apple’s iPhone 5, on sale this month: it will support EE’s 1800 MHz LTE band but not, apparently, the bands included in Ofcom’s coming spectrum auction


least three months on its rivals Vodafone, O2 and T ree.” He added: “Ofcom could have


been more judicious and allowed refarming after the auction. T is would have allowed all operators to deploy LTE (4G) on a level playing fi eld.” • Commercial LTE services on 1800 MHz are already available in 24 countries, including 10 EU member states.


Three makes ready for 4G M


obile operator Three UK has selected Samsung


Electronics to supply an LTE radio access network (RAN) and 3G/ LTE core infrastructure. Three UK recently bought a block of 1800 MHz spectrum released by Orange and T-Mobile as a consequence of the merger of their UK operations into Everything Everywhere, and it will enable Three UK to begin


4


an early LTE service, if Ofcom permits it. Samsung is to deploy LTE base


stations, associated systems and network support services across Three’s UK-wide network. Trials by Three UK and Samsung will begin this year in preparation for full deployment and commercialization in 2013. “Three’s customers will start benefi tting from this investment


Ofcom’s spot penalties


taxi fi rm in Northern Ireland has become


the fi rst PMR user to receive a fi xed penalty notice under new powers granted to Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.


Under the legislation, holders of business radio spectrum licences who fail to renew them yet continue to operate their radios without authorization now face the prospect of having to pay a fi xed penalty of £100. After the taxi operator had failed to renew its licence, investigations by Ofcom’s enforcement team revealed that it was still using its radio system, illegally. Besides having to pay the penalty, the company saw its radio equipment seized. Currently the number of business radio licences in force is nearly 43 000, at an annual fee averaging £145.


The £100 penalty notices


are part of a new process to encourage licence holders to renew their licences at the earliest opportunity. Unlicensed use of business radio frequencies may cause interference to legitimate users in the area, because Ofcom’s assignment system cannot take account of it. The new enforcement


in our core network early next year and those benefi ts will grow further as we deploy new spectrum”, said Dave Dyson, chief executive of Three UK. “In Samsung’s home market, operators are busy turning off 2G. In the UK Three is the only operator without a 2G network, which means more and more consumers are choosing the network built for the Internet.”


process involves a sliding scale of action. First Ofcom will contact those who fail to renew. If, after reasonable opportunity, the licence holder has still not paid the renewal fee, the licence is revoked. Then, if the user is found to be operating still, action may be taken, including the issue of fi xed penalty and possibly prosecution through the criminal courts.


LAND mobile September 2012


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