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Lord Carter’s Digital Britain report is something we’ve mentioned a few times in the past. Its ambitious plan of providing universal broadband at a 2Mbps minimum speed has been praised by many of the big players in the broadband world, but some of the companies responsible in implementing the plan have been slightly more cautious. The biggest problem has been the plans heavy reliance on ‘mobile broadband’, broadband that uses the 3G mobile network to connect customers in areas that have difficulty reaching a fixed line service.
Now a new problem has arisen in getting the mobile operators to share the spectrum, something that must completed before larger plans to implement nationwide mobile broadband can be implemented. 900 MHz is the spectrum range up for grabs, an important section for 3G networks allowing better reliability and ‘in-building’ access. Currently the only two UK providers with access to the range are Vodafone and O2 who had been given shares of the spectrum before any other providers had been established in England.
Vodafone and o2 Mobile Broadband
Vodafone and O2 have been in talks with the other major mobile operators earlier this year, but no agreement on sharing the bandwidth was made. With Ofcom proposing that a part of the bandwidth be given to ‘one other provider’ and the government needing an agreement to push forward its plans, it has been warned that a solution may be imposed on the operators if they can’t reach one for themselves.
Speaking to the BBC, Steve Blythe, head of Spectrum Strategy at Orange spoke about the company’s opinion on the talks: “900Mhz is key for our mobile broadband ambitions and to ensure a level playing field. If it isn’t released O2 and Vodafone will have considerable cost advantages.” Orange have previously dismissed worries from other mobile operators and offered to set up a network capable of fulfilling the needs outlined in Lord Carters report.
Talks are continuing through April and the industry has until the end of the month before things are likely to be taken out of their hands. Vodafone have refused t o comment on the situation, telling the BBC news site: “While we are actively participating in discussions, we have made it clear that these remain behind closed doors.”
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