TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • DSP Leaders
  • Great Telco Debate
    • |
    • Follow
    • |
    • Subscribe
  • |
  • More
  • Webcasts
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Great Telco Debate
  • |
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • |
    • Subscribe
    • |
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Backhaul

Backhaul

Ofcom opens up fixed wireless so that ‘anyone can build a network’

Ian Scales
By Ian Scales

Jul 9, 2018

via Flickr © Slipshod Photog  (CC BY-ND 2.0)

via Flickr © Slipshod Photog (CC BY-ND 2.0)

  • The UK regulator’s report on fixed wireless spectrum strategy aims to lower barriers to wireless network entry
  • Recognises the importance of new spectrum and new business models to enable 5G backhaul
  • New chips, new spectrum, new regulations should mean a boom in new wireless networks

Ofcom has published a five-year plan for fixed wireless adoption in the UK. Essentially the UK regulator has come round to the idea that it’s necessary to treat all those little bits and bobs of spectrum, used mostly for  fixed point to point applications, as a valuable resource to be managed to do the most good, rather than be viewed as almost marginal, niche cases which have to be carefully controlled. In addition it looks to high frequency public spectrum as being a critical part of the next generation, 5G-led wireless ecosystem too.

The upshot is a report which, after an intense period of consultation, sets out Ofcom’s way forward to “ensure that spectrum is not a barrier to making communications work for everyone.”

It’s divided the spectrum concerned into  three main frequency ranges:

Bands below 20 GHz. (for  longer links for both rural and suburban areas as well as for applications requiring very low latency);  

Bands between 20-45 GHz. (for Mobile backhaul connectivity - it says it expects that the very high capacity backhaul uses in the future will  focus on bands above 60 GHz but in terms of fixed wireless links, it expects a continued dependency on bands up to 38 GHz).

Bands above 45 GHz. It says that over the next five years it expects greater focus and take up in the 60/65 GHz bands as well as continued growth in 70/80 GHz.

It says it’s taking  immediate steps to enable licence exempt access to 14 GHz of spectrum by making changes to the regulatory regime in the 57-66 GHz range as well as making new spectrum available at 66-71 GHz.v

For greater detail see the full report.

Ofcom's approach appears to have been warmly received. According to Steve Greaves, CEO of UK-based radio fixed link specialist, CCS, it’s “very positive. It feels dynamic and it was what I hoped we’d see from them,” he told me. “And it’s been quick: it frees a company like us to get on and get out there to fight (in the marketplace).”

Greaves attributes the apparent change in approach to the 5G effect and the need to support it - especially with the UK government throwing a lot of weight (and money) to push it along.

“I read a great quote,” he says. “It goes ‘5G is too important to leave to the mobile operators’. The better way is to liberalise spectrum and get the technology companies to compete” over how it might be used to further the overall 5G cause.

“I have to say it’s quite an exciting time,” continued Greaves. “5G is a great step forward because it potentially democratises the whole of the ecosystem,” by relying on open standards and open source technology for SDN/NFV.

So what’s changed?  

“In the past I’d ask about using radio between point A and point B and they’d tell me what power I could transmit at, what modulation I could use: they were one of the most controlling regulators anywhere and they really stifled things. There was no innovation because you couldn’t get round any of this, but now they’ve come round to the view that the systems can deal with all of that detail, which is great.”

“[The Ofcom move] is not perfect but I take this now as a really  meaningful step in the right direction. Now anybody can build a network.”

Related Topics
  • 5G,
  • Access Evolution,
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • Backhaul,
  • Business Models,
  • Europe,
  • News,
  • Ofcom,
  • Policy & Regulation,
  • Radio Access Network,
  • Short-range Wireless,
  • Telco & CSP

More Like This

Access Evolution

UK Government report says UK Government has no policy on emerging technologies. This could be a mistake

Feb 4, 2021

Edge

What’s up with… Telefónica, Nokia, DZS

Jan 20, 2021

Open Networking

IP Infusion named by Telecom Infra Project as a software vendor for OpenSoftHaul solutions

Dec 23, 2020

Access Evolution

DT takes its mobile network to the stratosphere

Oct 19, 2020

6G R&I

NEC'€™s iPASOLINK EX Advanced Dual drives the evolution of 5G

Oct 12, 2020

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

On-demand Workshop: How to build your cloud native 5G core platform

16:48

The case for mmWave in 5G networks

25:55

The Private Mobility Opportunity for Enterprises

12:04

VMware learnings from DISH 5G rollout

  • TelecomTV
  • Decisive Media

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media

Menu
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
 
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Events
  • About Us
Our Brands
  • TelecomTV Tracker
  • TelecomTV Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • The Great Telco Debate
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070

Request a Media Pack

Follow
  • © Decisive Media Limited 2021. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Legal Notices