Spectrum for Mobile WiMAX Opening Up Around the Globe
Posted Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:36:03 EST by Philip Solis
UK's Ofcom is working on setting up an auction for 2.6 GHz spectrum in the UK. The use of this spectrum would be technology-neutral, but mobile WiMAX equipment is the best fit when you look at the coming equipment that will support that frequency. Not long ago, the prospects for mobile WiMAX in Europe seemed impossible, with mobile operators lobbying the government to continue providing spectrum for 3G, since they needed it. More and more you'll see countries in Europe adopt a technology-neutral approach to spectrum, and this will be beneficial to WiMAX vendors, innovative mobile operators, and customers.
Over in Japan, Softbank has received a license to test WiMAX in 2.5 GHz spectrum. NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, and smaller service providers in Japan are also looking at both fixed and mobile WiMAX. Softbank will trial it in a fairly dense city that is composed of primarily people under the age of 39, using Motorola base stations and Motorola handsets.
In Taiwan, the MOTC (Ministry of Transportation and Communications) is almost ready to auction licenses for mobile WiMAX. The NCC (National Communications Commission) is asking for nine licenses to be auctioned, while the MOTC is saying that only two licenses will be auctioned.