Ofcom are proposing to enable greater access to Extremely High Frequency (EHF) spectrum in the 100-200 GHz frequency range, given the potential to support a range of new wireless services in the future. Other countries are also looking to use these spectrum bands, including the recent decision of the Federal Communications Commission to make them available in the USA.
By increasing access to this spectrum, UK innovators – and, in future, consumers – could benefit from international research collaboration, as well as economies of scale as new internationally compatible devices are likely to emerge.
Ofcom believe these proposals would help position the UK at the forefront of developing new services to use this spectrum and in doing so help deliver benefits to people and businesses.
In light of responses to the consultation on supporting innovation in the 100-200 GHz range, published on 17 January 2020 and updated on 7 February, Ofcom have published a further consultation on additional details about the technical analysis underlying our proposals and are inviting any comments that stakeholders might have. The main content of this consultation is as follows:
- Section 2 provides an updated version of our Coexistence analysis with Earth Exploration-Satellite Services (passive) (Annex 6 to the January 2020 consultation), containing further clarifying information about the assumptions underlying our technical analysis. All material in Section 2 which is additional to that which was published in our January 2020 consultation (as Annex 6) is presented in grey boxes.
- Section 3 sets out further details of the coexistence analysis which informed our January proposals.
For the avoidance of doubt, this information does not modify the proposals that Ofcom made in the January 2020 consultation nor our underlying analysis. Ofcom welcome comments on the further information we are releasing by 17 June 2020.