Advanced Television

Spectrum

Ofcom consults on future vision for spectrum

Supporting innovation is at the heart of UK comms regulator Ofcom’s new vision for managing spectrum in the future. To support innovation, it wants to make it easier for organisations to access the spectrum they need for new and exciting uses. For example, this could include remote healthcare applications to support people taking medication and […]

December 4, 2020By Colin Mann

FCC readies C-band auction

Next week sees the start of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) auction of satellite C-band spectrum in the US. Satellite operators are in the process of clearing a total of 280 MHz of spectrum in the C-band (3.7-3.98 GHz) for repurposing for 5G use. Most observers expect the auction to generate billions of dollars to […]

November 30, 2020

‘Urgent’ call for more Wi-Fi spectrum

With over half of all the connections to the Internet starting or ending with Wi-Fi access and demand for broadband connectivity surging worldwide, Wi-Fi urgently needs access to the 6 GHz frequency band, concludes a new paper published by the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) and Policy Impact Partners (PIP), which represent multiple digital companies. Focused […]

November 16, 2020By Colin Mann

India halts ISRO/Antrix payment to Devas

Last week a US Federal Court upheld a previous verdict from the International Court of Commerce (delivered on September 14th) that India Space Research Organisation and its commercial arm Antrix must pay a total of $1.2 billion to Devas Multimedia. However, November 4th saw India’s Supreme Court stay the award.  The judges, headed by Chief […]

November 6, 2020By Chris Forrester

Ofcom progresses 5G spectrum auction

The next UK spectrum auction has moved a significant step closer, with comms regulator Ofcom publishing the final regulations, application form and guidance for those looking to take part in the auction. To help improve mobile services and give more people access to 5G networks, Ofcom will release 200 MHz of spectrum in two frequency […]

November 4, 2020By Colin Mann

FCC TVWS boost for rural broadband

The Federal Communications Commission has amended its rules governing unlicensed wireless services provided over spectrum in the television broadcasting bands – the so-called TV White Spaces (TVWS). The amended rules will allow for expanded use of this spectrum for the delivery of broadband services in rural and underserved communities while protecting broadcast television stations and […]

October 28, 2020By Colin Mann

HbbTV Association publishes new specs

The HbbTV Association, a global initiative dedicated to providing open standards for the delivery of advanced interactive TV services through broadcast and broadband networks for connected TV sets and set-top boxes, has completed work on an update to its core specification (HbbTV 2.0.3). For the first time, and based on the experience garnered through millions […]

October 27, 2020

Deadline approaches for C-band installs

Earth station operators in the US as well as cable and IP head-ends which have equipment pointing towards SES Americom satellites must decide this by October 14th if they want to self-install the necessary equipment and realign dishes for the new C-band signals. The FCC has identified around 6000 registered/licensed C-band users in the US […]

October 12, 2020By Chris Forrester

France: 5G spectrum auction brings €2.8bn

The 5G spectrum auction by French telecom regulatory body Arcep has seen French operators spend €2.78 billion. Orange has won the highest quantity among the eleven 10MHz lots of 5G frequencies in the GHz 3.4-3.8 band, paying €854 million. Its total range of frequencies, (including previous allocations) total 257MHz, the largest on the market. SFR […]

October 2, 2020From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

FCC to free up more 5G mid-band spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has, as expected, proposed freeing up more mid-band spectrum for use by 5G operators in the US. Currently the frequencies (3.45-3.55 GHz) is primarily used by the US military and the US Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD used the spectrum for radar systems amongst other communications needs on fixed, […]

October 2, 2020By Chris Forrester