Posted: 19th Oct, 2007 By: MarkJ
Cisco, a global networking giant, has called on
Ofcom to consider other wireless technologies outside of TV services when it begins selling off 112MHz of UK analogue UHF frequencies in the future.
The spectrum is being freed up as part of the digital switchover, which means old analogue frequencies being turned off in favour of digital replacements. Typically the entertainment industry wants this retained for TV and radio:
However, the spectrum could also be used for wireless broadband services, such as HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access, including High-Speed Downlink Packet Access or HSDPA, and High-Speed Uplink Packet Access or HSUPA) and WiMax.
Denying UK citizens this usage of the spectrum, claimed two Cisco executives on Thursday, would be wasteful. "That would be a missed opportunity because we believe there is a whole range of innovative services, in part broadband-like services that have a two-way channel, that could be used," said Richard Allan, Cisco's European director of government affairs.
Ofcom are presently quite keen to be seen as not favouring any particular technology, thus Cisco's desires stand a good chance of coming true. More @
ZDNet.