Award of available spectrum: 2500-2690MHz,2010-2025MHz | Ofcom

Award of available spectrum: 2500-2690MHz,2010-2025MHz | Ofcom

Ofcom are looking to make a considerable ammount of spectrum available. They are looking at 2 paired bands and a single unpaired band which would be suitable for WiMAX type services.

There is going to be a lot of interest in this spectrum (BT have already implied they will bid for it). As the band was originally going to be used for 3G, current 3G terminals will look for control channels in this band, and so there is also interest from 3G operators.

Ofcom are consulting now and will make a decision on the regulations etc by March or April 2008 and following invite applicants to participate in the award in the first quarter of 2008 and commence the bidding process as soon as possible thereafter.

Regulation of VoIP Services: Access to the Emergency Services | Ofcom

Regulation of VoIP Services: Access to the Emergency Services | Ofcom

Ofcom is proposing that all VoIP providers will need to provide access to 999 services since users of VoIP services are unaware or thought that services did privide access.

They are holding a consultation which closes on 20th Sept 2007.

If providers do provide 999 services they will be classed as PATS which may put further obligations on the provider.

Currently 999 services have the ability to tie a telephone number to an address (or to a cell site in terms of mobile calls - they Cell ID is passed as part of the call set-up), VoIP calls make this more difficult, however this is similar to US policy where VoIP providers have to meet E911 conditions.