§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make any of the radio spectrum around 2 GHz avilable for rural broadband. [HL45]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)Access to radio spectrum in the 2 GHz band for broadband has always been seriously constrained as a result of other users. Access has been so constrained that it was previously available only for radio fixed access at low data rates in some remote rural areas and no services were ever provided by those offered licences.
Recent changes have made it even more difficult for broadbank provision in this band and it is no longer appropriate to make available any radio spectrum for broadband in the 2 GHz band.