Ofcom UK Opens Review of Fixed Wireless Network Links

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today begun a review of the use and demand for fixed wireless links and related spectrum implications. Such links can be used for all sorts of things, such as delivering broadband to homes, feeding backhaul data capacity for mobile networks in remote areas and TV broadcasts etc.

However, the regulator is mindful of the fact that the market is changing in a number of different ways, such as in respect to the increased rollout of full fibre and, to a lesser extent, low latency satellite broadband networks – both could impact the nature of demand for fixed wireless links in the future. “We expect that the role fixed links will play in the future is more likely to be focused at the edges of the networks, rather than at the core,” said Ofcom.

At the same time, demand for the finite resource of radio spectrum is continuing to grow in other areas (e.g. mobile). In short, Ofcom is suggesting that there may be some cause for more spectrum – some of the bits currently still allocated to fixed wireless links – to be redistributed to other areas (some bands, such as 26 and 40GHz, have already gone through this).

Precisely which bands this might involve is what Ofcom need to determine, and for that they first need to understand the level of demand.

Ofcom’s Call for Inputs

We are seeking input from stakeholders on the following topics:

➤ The spectrum currently available for fixed links and how it is authorised;

➤ The future demand for fixed links and factors that users consider when deciding to use fixed links over alternative connectivity solutions (e.g., fibre and satellite);

➤ The wider market and technology developments affecting the market for fixed links;

➤ International spectrum developments, including potential future use of bands above 92 GHz (W and D bands).

The total amount of spectrum available for new fixed link assignments in the UK is now approximately 22.1GHz, which after recent changes is already a decrease of around 5GHz (frequency) since 2016. Overall, the total number of links in use has declined, from approximately 45k in 2016 to around 32k in 2023 – a decrease of 27% across all bands.

However, the average channel bandwidth used by fixed links has increased, with the total (aggregate) bandwidth used by all fixed links increasing by 54%. The decline in the number of links is particularly pronounced in the mid-range frequency bands, i.e., between 10-38 GHz.

There are a number of possible reasons behind this decline including, e.g., migration to fibre networks and a shift towards fewer but higher capacity links. This latter reason is supported by the increase in number of links in the 70/80GHz band, which supports higher bandwidth, higher capacity links.

Ofcom adds that the overall decline in number of links (-27%) is mainly being driven by a decline in the number of links deployed by mobile network operators (MNOs), such as O2, EE, Vodafone and Three UK. But if they exclude MNO links from this analysis, the overall number of links in use has actually increased by 24%.

The regulator is seeking feedback on all this until 17th January 2024.