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News from 2005-09-23 14:21:42.
is an ad hoc coalition of non-profit organisations engaged in community wireless networking and the promotion of license-free access to the public airwaves. The availability of spectrum for license-exempt use has enabled us to develop cost-effective, user-owned networks to provide Internet access and localised information services for the benefit of many thousands of UK residents (January 2005).
Read more on the aims of Open Spectrum UK here
News
- FUTURE WIRELESS:practical.discourse.creative - Speakers confirmed for the discourse.wireless track(posted 23 September 2005)
At the Science Museum's Dana Centre, London, 4 October 2005
See the Cybersalon website for event details here∞
Future Wireless conference - a day of presentation, demonstration, practical workshop, artistic intervention and debate to demonstrate and probe the nature, impact and potential of the wireless Internet, mobile telecommunications and other radio-based technologies. Future Wireless is the lastest in a series of collaborative events with Open Spectrum UK, a coalition of non-profit organisations engaged in community wireless networking and the advocacy of licence-exempt access to radio spectrum - as part of NODE.London's autumn '05 season
Speakers are now confirmed for the discourse.wireless track:
WIRELESS ECOLOGIES: BROADBAND BRITAIN?
Convenor
* John Wilson, Open Spectrum UK
Presentations
* Daniel Heery (Alston Cybermoor) - Community, Broadband and Narrowcast
* Barry Eaton (Anglesey Connected) - Building a Regional Broadband Network
* Ian Robinson (Head of Emerging Products, BT) - BT and
WiMax
* Peter Cochrane (
ConceptLabs) - Future Wireless? Technology, Regulation, Society
Emerging wireless broadband technologies have been deployed in the UK in recent years as an innovative first mile/last mile solution for remote and rural areas. And with the current hype surrounding
WiMax, wireless is poised to transform the coverage map across all geographies to deliver the vision of “Broadband Britian”. Join our experts in this unique reflection upon where we've come from and where we're heading on the "Broadband Britain" journey.
* We focus upon three leading UK wireless broadband deployments at the community, regional and national levels, to explore wireless and the evolving communications landscape ecology.
* We also engage global expertise to explore our Future Wireless theme, as BT are a member of the
WiMax consortium and Peter Cochrane is a celebrated technology futurist (and former CTO for BT).
* Join us in our discursive enquiry into such issues as Wireless Broadband- DIY or DIFM? (do-it-yourself or do-it-for-me?) Broadcast or narrowcast? Spectrum, The Invisible Wealth of Nations?
Announcing FUTURE WIRELESS:practical.discourse.creative
At the Science Museum's Dana Centre, London, 4 October 2005 (posted 24 August 2005)
Future Wireless conference - a day of presentation, demonstration, practical workshop, artistic intervention and debate to demonstrate and probe the nature, impact and potential of the wireless Internet, mobile telecommunications and other radio-based technologies. Future Wireless is the lastest in a series of collaborative events with Open Spectrum UK, a coalition of non-profit organisations engaged in community wireless networking and the advocacy of licence-exempt access to radio spectrum - as part of NODE.London's autumn '05 season
See the Cybersalon website for event details
here∞- Ofcom Consultation: Cave Audit of Spectrum Holdings (posted 10 july 2005)
Update 2 Sept 2005: Ofcom announcement- For information: a new publication has been added to the website of the Independent Audit of Spectrum Holdings. The Audit, being carried out by Professor Martin Cave, commissioned a report from consultants Analysys Mason on future commercial demand for spectrum as background information for the Audit. This study is published on the Audit's website today and can be found at www.spectrumaudit.org.uk under "News". It makes scenario-based demand projections focusing on the next 10 years but extending to 20 years, for cellular, fixed link, broadband wireless access, satellite and terrestrial TV broadcasting services, and concentrating on the major uses and users of the spectrum below 15GHz.
Extract from UK Treasury press release: 7 July 2005
Professor Martin Cave today invited views on issues that he will address in his Independent Audit of Spectrum Holdings, which focuses primarily on public sector holdings. These issues are set out in a consultation document and interested parties are encouraged to respond to the issues raised, which indicate the proposed direction of the Audit.
The radio spectrum is a valuable, finite resource. In the 2004 Pre-Budget Report, the Chancellor of the Exchequer commissioned an Independent Audit of Spectrum Holdings. The Audit is focusing on bands below 15GHz used by the public sector and fixed links and concentrating on those with the most potential for use by commercial organisations. Professor Martin Cave was asked to investigate whether these frequencies are being used as efficiently as possible and to review the effectiveness of incentives for making efficient use of spectrum.
Professor Martin Cave said:
“Radio spectrum is a valuable resource. The public sector is the largest user of this resource, for which there has been - and is likely to continue to be – growing commercial demand. It is therefore important to ensure that effective use is being made of these holdings. The introduction of market mechanisms into spectrum management will introduce both challenges and opportunities for the public sector. These need to be addressed, and mechanisms put in place to incentivise efficient use of these major holdings, now and in the future, while safeguarding the operation of essential security and safety of life services. I would encourage all those with an interest in these issues – public sector uses and those commercial users who might benefit from the changes we are suggesting – to contribute to this consultation. ”
The closing date for responses is 1st September 2005. Professor Cave will publish his recommendations and Final Report ahead of the Pre-Budget Report 2005.
- Ofcom publishes its conclusion to the Spectrum Framework Review (posted 29 June 2005)
- Read the full Ofcom Spectrum Framework Review Statement here ∞
28|06|05 | Ofcom approach to spectrum management |
Ofcom today published the conclusion of its Spectrum Framework Review, setting out its approach to the future management of radio spectrum in the UK. The Review advocates a market-led approach, in contrast to the previous regime under which the regulator decided the type of organisation that should have access to specific parts of the spectrum, and how they should be used. Ofcom’s proposals were subject to public consultation and were broadly supported by stakeholders. - Full press release
here∞
29 June 2005 | Dugie Standeford | Communications Daily (Washington, USA) | a subscription news service: www.warren-news.com | Reproduced with permission of Warren Communications News
"The regulator envisions market forces will manage 72% of
spectrum, while 7% will fall under license-exempt use, and the
other 21% will be managed under current Ofcom approaches. The Open
Spectrum Foundation, which lobbies for more radio bands for license
exempt use, called Ofcom's decision disappointing. Ofcom 'made a few
minor changes, like agreeing to periodic surveys of congestion in
some of the unlicensed bands,' said Dir. Robert Horvitz. But it
failed to understand its own statement that where use of particular
equipment for wireless telegraphy isn't likely to cause harmful
interference, that use must be exempt from license requirements, he
said. Capping license-exempt spectrum at 800MHz or estimating how
much of it is 'needed' is simply wrongheaded,' he said. Ofcom is
required by law to justify the need for licensing, not license
exemption, Horvitz said."
- Wireless Utopias 05: An Open Future for Spectrum? - Peter Cochrane's Silicon.com Blog (posted June 3rd 2005)
02.06.05, 12.15 GMT, The Science Museum, London, UK: Don't hold your breath for 3G∞
Will the mobile industry ever learn? Customers call the shots, not industry or government....
I just had a meeting with a group of young people who brought back a flood of memories from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, when the UK population wanted commercial radio but the government of the day was wed to a BBC-only world. This resulted in offshore radio stations on trawlers 'illegally' transmitting commercial radio. The government and regulators were outraged, whilst the public and advertisers were delighted. The outcome? Commercial radio was legalised. Public action and opinion won the day! (...) Well, watch out for 4G, 5G, 6G etc... it is time to watch the users and the technology again!
- Wireless Utopias 05: An Open Future for Spectrum? - notes (posted May 31st 2005)
The event sold out early and the scene was set for excellent presentations which was followed by lively debatein Q&A. A blog of the event can be found here
- Wireless Utopias 05: An Open Future for Spectrum? - Speakers confirmed.
May 26th, 7-9pm at the Science Museum's Dana Centre.(posted May 17th 2005)
The event programme and speakers have now been confirmed. The event is free but you must register by mailing your request to bookings@cybersalon.org∞ and see Cybersalon∞ for venue details.
Provocateur: John Wilson (Open Spectrum UK)
Panel: Michael Marcus (former FCC; USA),Dewayne Hendricks (Dandin Group; California, USA), Dr. Onno Purbo (Indonesia), Peter Bury (Ofcom; UK), William Webb (Ofcom; UK), Gordon Adgey (Broadband4Devon; UK), Peter Cochrane (Concept Labs; UK)
Bearing points for debate: Towards an Open Spectrum policy?
The reform of Spectrum Management Policy is one of the strategic issues for the Communications Agenda in the UK at present! Yet spectrum policy is below most people's radar- no pun intended.
We may say that the radio spectrum is rather a part of The Invisible Wealth of Nations. We need to engage wider public debate on the future of this strategic national resource.
Open Spectrum UK argues for a balance of the commercial and the public interest in access to and use of the radio spectrum. Read More ...
Announcing Wireless Utopias 05: An Open Future for Spectrum?
May 26th, 7-9pm at the Science Museum's Dana Centre. (posted April 26th 2005)
Cybersalon∞ and Open Spectrum UK host a unique debate on the future of wireless communications and the strategic prospects for utilising the radio spectrum. Put questions to a panel of leading International experts and Ofcom representatives who will discuss the big issues of technology, regulation and society. Part of the
Wireless London∞ initiative.
The context for this second event in the Wireless Utopias series is Ofcom's
Spectrum Framework Review∞, and we explore wireless utopias from the open market to open spectrum. The radio spectrum is a part of The Invisible Wealth of Nations, and we need to engage wider public debate. Is the radio spectrum a common public good and global resource, or a commodity subject to the discipline of the market place?
Programme details and speakers to be announced shortly. See the
Cybersalon ∞ website for registration and Venue details.
- Ofcom Spectrum Framework Review Submissions published (posted March 31st 2005)
The full list∞ of responses to the Spectrum Framework Review have now been published .
- Open Spectrum UK Ofcom Spectrum Framework Review Submission (posted February 15th 2005)
Reflecting on the topics raised in the document presenting Ofcom’sSpectrum Framework Review∞, we found agreement with each other on numerous issues and therefore decided to submit a collective response.
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