§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they are giving to the call from the Broadband Stakeholder Group that more spectrum, specifically frequencies at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz and above, should be released for the purposes of establishing wireless broadband services. [HL3796]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleIt is the intention of Her Majesty's Government that 105 MHz of spectrum at 5.8 GHz (known as band C) will be made available for broadband fixed wireless access services by the end of summer 2003 on a light licensed basis.
The existing licence exempt 2.4 GHz frequency band may already be used for fixed wireless access services.
Broadband services have also been made available at 3.4 GHz and 28 GHz.
We are planning further access to other bands, in particular 3.6–4.2 GHz and 2.010–2.025 GHz, and their use for broadband applications will be considered.
Officials in my department and the Radiocommunications Agency are working with the Broadband Stakeholders Group to explore the need for the release of further spectrum to help to achieve the Government's broadband target.