Ofcom To Auction Radio Spectrum To Make Way For Mobile TV
Ofcom is to auction a large portion of radio spectrum for services such as mobile TV.
The provisional deadline for applications is 10 April, with the auction likely to start at the end of April.
Ofcom said the 1452-1492 MHz band, the so-called “L-Band”, could potentially be used for mobile multimedia services such as mobile TV, satellite digital radio and wireless broadband.
The regulator added that the L-Band is part of a wider programme to release around 400 MHz of prime spectrum in the coming years to the media industry.
Ofcom spectrum policy partner Philip Rutnam said the spectrum will provide an opportunity for citizens and consumers to benefit from new services and greater competition.
In December, the regulator outlined plans for its “digital-dividend” auction, which will occur after digital switchover in 2012 when valuable broadcast transmission spectrum will be freed up.
The regulator has decided on a market led approach, although it has identified one case where it will reserve spectrum to avoid the risk of market failure in an auction.
The freed-up spectrum will be suitable for services including ultra-fast wireless broadband, mobile TV, more digital TV channels, local TV, wireless microphones and low power applications developed from wi-fi.
Ofcom plans to auction most of the digital dividend in 2009, offering licences that allow users to decide the technology and service, and that can be traded later.
The overall benefit from the use of the digital dividend is estimated to be £5 billion to £10 billion of added benefit to the economy over 20 years (see Ofcom Unveils Digital Dividend Plans).
Mobile TV is increasing in popularity, both globally and in the UK, with mobile providers and brands extending their reach to the platform. Men’s digital only lifestyle mag, Monkey, announced this week that it was to launch a mobile TV channel (see Dennis Launches Monkey Mobile TV Channel), whilst Orange and T-Mobile UK announced in February that they intended to jointly pilot a new mobile TV and multimedia broadcast service in London (see T-Mobile And Orange Announce Mobile TV Trial).
Earlier this year, Motorola also announced it was launching a new handset which would allow users to watch TV on-demand while they are on the move (see Motorola To Launch Mobile TV Handset).
However, panellists at MediaTel Group’s ‘Future of TV’ seminar last year argued that it has been a disappointing start for mobile television, with take-up of the platform less than expected and broadcasters seemingly disillusioned with mobile operators.
Panellist Peter Cowley, managing director of digital media at Endemol UK, said that Endemol had been “very disappointed with mobile as a content consumption device” having had quite high hopes for the platform.
He added that the level of sophistication which had been expected to arrive and thus enable TV viewing to be a straightforward pastime had not occurred (see Disappointing Start For Mobile TV).
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk