BRUSSELS – The use of frequency bands for wireless broadband applications should be harmonized at European and preferably worldwide levels, says ETNO in its response to the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) consultation on Strategic Challenges facing Europe in addressing the Growing Spectrum Demand for Wireless Broadband.

“The growing spectrum demand is a key issue and solutions identified will affect the uptake of mobile wireless broadband services for the decades to come. Streamlining the allocation of spectrum for wireless services will contribute to more harmonization in network and consumer equipment such as dongles, tablets, handset, etc, compatible across markets. This will create more scale for producers and operators and will help advance the digital single market”, says Daniel Pataki, ETNO Director.

As general guiding principles ETNO believes that the identified frequency bands for wireless broadband should be globally harmonized and national deviations should be minimized.
“It is very important to define a channel plan for the 700 MHz band compatible with the plan identified in Asia and already adopted by many Central and South American countries, and so to be able to harmonise it with possible extensions downwards. The development of a long-term strategic policy on the future convergence shall not delay the preparatory work regarding the allocation of the 700 MHz band for the mobile service in the context of WRC-15 agenda”, says says Massimiliano Simoni, Chair of ETNO Spectrum Issues Working Group.

“Furthermore ETNO has already expressed the view that some very bandwidth-hungry services like UHDTV and 3DTV are better suited for different distribution means like cable, or satellite instead of UHF aerial distribution and therefore agrees with the RSPG that sometimes wireless and wireline technologies compete with each other, but, in other cases like this one, they are complementary”, added Simoni.

For more information, please contact: Thierry Dieu, ETNO Director for Communications and Public Policy
Tel: (32-2) 219 32 42 Fax: (32-2) 219 64 12 E-mail: dieu@etno.be

ETNO’s 37 member companies and 12 observers from Europe and beyond represent a significant part of total ICT activity in Europe. They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than €600 billion and employ more than 1.6 million people. ETNO companies are the main drivers of broadband and are
committed to its continual growth in Europe.