Friday, January 02, 2009

UK - spectrum dispute

Minister steps in over telecoms row

Lord Carter, the communications minister, has intervened in a dispute between the telecoms regulator and mobile phone companies over future use of radio spectrum for wireless internet services.

Ofcom wants to sell spectrum that will support fast internet access on mobile phones, but the row with the industry has meant the regulator’s plans have ground to an embarrassing halt.

Lord Carter, a former Ofcom chief executive, is exploring how companies including O2 and Vodafone might settle their differences with the regulator.

The increasingly acrimonious dispute is holding up the release of spectrum that could spread the availability of mobile internet services to rural areas, and increase surfing speeds on handsets

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