Making Spectrum Available in the 71-76GHz and 81-86GHz Bands

Executive Summary

Summary

1.1 This document sets out Ofcom’s proposals to open the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz spectrum bands (the “Spectrum Bands”) for point to point broadband fixed wireless systems (“FWS”) on a light licensed basis.

1.2 The Spectrum Bands currently have little or no use and are therefore available for a wide range of wireless applications. Technology is now emerging which can be used to provide a broad range of new products and applications such as high capacity fixed point to point wireless area networks and broadband internet access which could potentially be used as an alternative to fibre based solutions.

1.3 The proposals contained in this document have been developed in light of increasing interest from the market in use of these frequencies for systems of this kind.

1.4 Ofcom’s statutory duties include securing the optimal use of the electro-magnetic spectrum, and the availability throughout the United Kingdom of a wide range of electronic communication services. Ofcom must have regard to a number of considerations in performing its duties, including the principles of transparency and proportionality, the desirability of promoting competition, of encouraging investment and innovation, and the availability of high-speed data transfer services.

1.5 Ofcom’s strategy for the management of spectrum is to keep regulation to the minimum necessary, and to give a much greater role to the market in determining how spectrum is used, and by whom, rather than these decisions being determined by the regulator.

1.6 The proposals in this document have been prepared in light of Ofcom’s spectrum strategy and duties, as well as other relevant considerations such as the international framework for use of these frequencies.

1.7 In particular, Ofcom has considered evidence of demand for use of these frequencies, and how optimal use could be secured through an appropriate regulatory framework. The evidence available to Ofcom suggests that:

• There is increasing demand from a variety of commercial users for access to these frequencies for FWS. This is consistent with commercial and regulatory developments internationally, in the US and other parts of Europe.
• The technical characteristics of the FWS that are likely to be deployed (notably, 'pencil beam' signal characteristics) are such that multiple different users of FWS could co-exist without causing adverse interference, provided there is a registration and self-coordination mechanism in place.
• It would therefore be in the interest of better use of the spectrum to open the bands for FWS use, but given the expected conditions of supply and demand this can be done on a first come first served basis.
• There is little or no evidence of similar demand from other potential types of use or user, such as mobile use, amateur applications or satellite services.

1.8 In order to maximise the opportunities for effective use of the spectrum and keep regulation to a minimum, Ofcom intends to adopt a light licensed process for these bands to enable the authorisation and deployment of point to point FWS in a rapid, self assigned, self co-ordinated and flexible way.

1.9 The Spectrum Bands offer the possibility of high capacity wide bandwidth applications with 10GHz (2 x 5GHz) of spectrum available.

1.10 Within the Spectrum Bands potential data speeds currently quoted range from 1GBit/s to 10GBits/s for short hop (1-2km) high availability (>99.9%) FWS access and infrastructure applications. Currently, such data speeds in the lower microwave bands are not possible due to bandwidth constraints.

1.11 In relation to co-ordination requirements and the assignment of links, the proposals in this consultation move away from the traditional, centralised assignment approach Ofcom currently undertakes in the lower Fixed Link point to point bands (1.5 GHz to 55 GHz). Instead, taking into account the properties of these higher millimetre wave bands, Ofcom is proposing to adopt a more flexible, light licensed approach so that co-ordination obligations rest with the licensee. Ofcom is also proposing that licensees register links on a first come first served basis in order to establish priority.

1.12 The approach put forward in this consultation is aimed at encouraging innovative use of the Spectrum Bands, stimulating further technological development and promoting competition in communication services while imposing only the minimum amount of regulation necessary to achieve these aims.

1.13 The key proposals are:

Spectrum	Ofcom Proposals
71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz	To make spectrum available in the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz for point to point broadband fixed wireless applications on a light licensed basis. Specifically 2 x 4.75GHz which takes into account adjacent band compatibility issues.
Amateur and Amateur Satellite Allocations at 75.5-76 GHz	To continue to permit amateur and amateur satellite use between 75.5-76 GHz on a secondary basis.
Wireless Telegraphy Rights and Obligations	Ofcom Proposals
Licence	To provide non exclusive national licences subject to revocation on 5 years notice. The number of licences issued will be unlimited. Each licence may contain an unlimited number of assignments.
Link Registration	To develop and implement a link registration system which records the technical details of each link registered on a database. Priority will be established on a first come first served basis. To make the data on this database available to all licensees and on a public basis.
Fees	For each link registered a fee based on £50 per year will be charged.
Spectrum Trading	The licences will be tradable. All types of trades i.e. partial or total, concurrent or outright permitted.
Flexibility	The licences will contain the minimum necessary technical conditions.
Interference Management and Technical Issues	Ofcom Proposals
Coordination	Licensees will self coordinate links using the technical parameters available from the database. For each coordination situation, the licensee with the link registered first will have priority.