§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What strategy they have in place for the development and roll-out of next generation broadband via Ethernet and fibre connections. [HL4256]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe Government's strategy for making the broadband market more extensive and competitive was set out in theUK Online Annual Report in December 2001. There are already a number of companies providing Ethernet services in the UK.
§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they endorse the Radio Authority's announcement of the intention to auction licences in the 3.4GHz spectrum, particularly in light of the low levels of interest being shown in licences for the 28GHz spectrum. [HL4259]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe Government's aim of building a broadband Britain means making services available to as many people as possible. A key part of that strategy involves making various bands within the radio spectrum available to enable the market to develop a portfolio of technical solutions. Licences were awarded in the 28GHz band that provide coverage of over 60 per cent of the country. Industry has asked for additional spectrum at 3.4GHz to be made available. They can then choose the most appropriate method of delivering broadband to the business and residential markets.
Licences will be awarded through an auction process, as an auction process provides a fast, transparent, fair and economically efficient way of allocating the spectrum and allows the spectrum to be assigned to the operator who values it most.