Reserving the band 2500–2690 MHz for the London 2012 Games - Statement on the extension of Ofcom’s Spectrum Plan for London 2012

Statement

Executive Summary

1.1 The London 2012 Games take place between 27 July and 9 September 2012. During this period, and immediately before and after the Games, the demand for access to spectrum suited to wireless camera technologies will be exceptionally high. The Government has guaranteed to the International Olympic Committee that sufficient spectrum will be made available for the organisation of the Games. Since 2006 Ofcom has been developing a spectrum plan to match the significant spectrum needs of the Games with appropriate frequencies. With this in mind we consulted on 23 August 2010 about whether we should reserve spectrum within the 2500-2690 MHz range (the 2.6 GHz band) for use by wireless cameras at the London 2012 Games. This consultation closed on 17 September 2010.

1.2 The responses to the consultation raised points about alternative uses for the 2.6 GHz band in 2012. We published an update to the spectrum plan for the London 2012 Games on 18 October 2010. This stated that we would seek additional information in order to undertake a further assessment of any opportunity cost or consumer harm from:  

• restricting the availability of the 2.6 GHz band for new mobile services like Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX ^(-1-) or
• restricting the availability of the 2.6 GHz band for wireless cameras at and around London 2012 Games venues.

We have now undertaken that further assessment.

1.3 The responses also raised a question about the impact of airborne wireless cameras on radars that use the 2700-2900 MHz band. We have therefore undertaken a technical assessment of this question.

Conclusions

2.6 GHz reservation

1.4 An alternative to using the 2.6 GHz band for wireless cameras for London 2012 Games would be using it for new mobile service trials or services. These new services will have significant value, but will not be available until new licences have been awarded (currently forecast for Q2 2012) and the radar remediation project is completed (which will be after the Games has ended). However we have received no evidence of a significant opportunity cost or of resulting harm to consumers from our proposal to reserve the 2.6 GHz band for Games use during the summer of 2012. We have received confidential evidence from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) of the importance of access to the 2.6 GHz band for wireless cameras including new spectrum demand information from the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS). The confidential evidence from LOCOG and OBS indicates the importance of access to the 2.6 GHz band to enable wireless camera coverage of the Games and in particular airborne wireless camera coverage, which is not possible in many alternative bands. 

1.5 In the absence of evidence that there is any material opportunity cost of reserving the 2.6 GHz band for the London 2012 Games, or of harm to consumers, we will proceed with the reservation of the whole 2500-2690 MHz band for wireless cameras between 28 June and 23 September 2012.

1.6 It may be possible to grant licences for non-operational trials and tests of new mobile or broadband data services in the 2.6 GHz band if these are carefully co-ordinated. The provision of London 2012 Games services will take precedence over other uses of the spectrum during the Games, but we will endeavour to coordinate other uses (where possible) in order to facilitate the development of new services to citizens and consumers.

1.7 Our reservation of the 2.6 GHz band for the London 2012 Games does not require us to revoke or vary existing spectrum licences to meet Games requirements.

Effect of wireless cameras on 2700-2900 MHz

1.8 We have carefully considered how it will be possible to permit airborne wireless cameras in the 2.6 GHz band while prohibiting the deployment of LTE networks and devices because of the potential for interference to radars operating in the 2700-2900 MHz band.

1.9 Our assessment refelects the absence of reported interference from existing airborne wireless camera use in the 2.6 GHz band to Air Traffic Control (ATC) radars operating in the 2700-2900 MHz band. The main reason for this is the low transmit powers deployed in practice by airborne wireless cameras, the small numbers in use and the mobile and transient nature of this application.

1.10 We conclude that by adopting power limits for airborne wireless camera use, harmful interference will not result from airborne wireless camera use to ATC radars. Our previous conclusions ^{(-2-) (-3-) (-4-)} on the potential for harmful interference from LTE base-stations on unmitigated radars systems remain unaffected.

Footnotes:

  1.- See for example: http://www.wimaxforum.org/

  2.-http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/spectrum-awards/awards-in-preparation/757738/Ofcom_presentation_slid1.pdf

  3.-http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/2ghzawards/annexes/masonresearch.pdf

  4.-http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/spectrum-awards/awards-in-preparation/infoupdate.pdf