This document provides the Ofcom Statement with respect to making the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz bands (the “Spectrum Bands”) available for point to point fixed wireless systems (FWS) on a light licensed basis in the UK.
Ofcom publicly consulted from 24 May 2006 to 2 August 2006 on proposals to make the Spectrum Bands available to the UK market. The consultation was conducted in light of increasing interest from the UK market to use of the Spectrum Bands for broadband point to point FWS.
Ofcom is grateful to the consultation respondents and has carefully considered the comments in developing the UK policy for the Spectrum Bands. In developing the policy, Ofcom has also taken into account a number of other considerations, including the principles of transparency and proportionality, the desirability of promoting competition, of encouraging investment and innovation, and the availability of high-speed data transfer services.
It is Ofcom’s intention to facilitate access to the Spectrum Bands through a light licensed and online registration system. While Ofcom develops such a system, interim procedures based on a manual system of licensing and registration will be implemented to facilitate access to the Spectrum Bands at the earliest possible time.