Ofcom

UK begins consultation on white spaces spectrum

Paul Rasmussen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:57:15 -0500

Harnessing the unused 'white spaces' in TV spectrum for wireless broadband has been mainly a US issue to date, but the UK regulator Ofcom has also started a consultation on plans to license these frequencies, particularly to help improve broadband coverage in rural areas.

The US FCC approved the use of white spaces for wireless last year, on a license-exempt basis, subject to various measures being adopted to prevent interference with broadcasters' signals. Fervent lobbyists for this spectrum option, such as Microsoft, Motorola and Google, have been working on various elements--such as device prototypes and geolocation databases--to make the technology commercially viable, though this is expected to be a three-year task at least.

Ofcom is several steps behind this, and may consider a licensed model, which - as so often with recent UK policies - could influence the rest of the European Union. The main applications in which it has expressed interest are rural broadband, with affordable coverage enabled by the low frequencies of the broadcast bands; and in-home monitoring systems. Article

Mobile phone directory looks doomed, for now

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:36:48 -0400

The uproar from consumers over the recent UK launch of a mobile phone directory service would appear to have killed the project. Within days of being available, phone users attempted to access the 118 800 service online in order to have their mobile number removed from the directory fearing they would receive unwanted calls.

The deluge of removal requests caused the system to crash, with the company then announcing temporary suspension of its 118 800 service on July 10t--this provisional interruption would now appear to be more permanent with no information as to when the directory service will be relaunched--if ever.

However, Connectivity, the company that runs the mobile phone directory service, has been at pains to inform mobile phone users that anyone purchasing a phone number using its service would not be able to directly call the person they want to reach. Instead, a text message would be sent from 118 800 stating that someone would like to call them and are they happy with being put in touch.

The 118 800 service, which is searchable by name and UK town, acts as a brokerage and doesn't give out the mobile phone number. Those wishing to use the service are charged £1 per mobile number purchased.

While mobile phone user have long (falsely) believed their numbers are largely private, the UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has stated that such services are likely to become more prevalent as directory services have been deregulated. A separate branch of Ofcom, PhonePay Plus, is charged with overseeing commercial services of this sort.

For more on this story:
PC Advisor

O2: the UK's largest operator, with the poorest 3G coverage

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:44:44 -0400

While it has secured exclusive distribution rights to the iPhone, Palm Pre and other 3G smartphones, O2 has been slated by the UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, as being one of the poorest providers of 3G coverage.

The information that O2 and Vodafone scored lowest on 3G coverage has only been revealed since Ofcom published 3G coverage maps for the first time. The maps dismiss the 90 per cent and higher 3G coverage claims made by most of the major networks. In fact even those operators that do come out well still show numerous flat spots which must test the confidence and belief of consumers that they can enjoy a seamless high speed mobile broadband experience.

However, given that Ofcom has produced the maps based upon theoretical calculations rather than involving extensive footwork in real world scenarios, the door is open for these results to be rubbished by the operators.

While Ofcom would give the impression that this information has been open to public inspection, the maps were only published after a business journalist forced the government agency to reveal the data under the Freedom of Information Act. Only last year, Ofcom went to the UK High Court to prevent the publication of the information, which must raise the question of what was being hidden?

For more on this story:
Trusted Reviews and The Register

Competition Commission overrules Ofcom

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:06:55 -0500

The UK's Competition Commission has ruled against telecom regulator Ofcom's planned reduction in mobile termination rates. Instead of the four main UK mobile operators having to reduce their termination rates to 5.1 pence per minute by 2010/2011, as mandated by Ofcom, they must instead reduce them to 4 pence per minute. The other mobile operator, 3 UK, is given late entry protection by being required to cut only to 4.4 pence per minute.

The issue of mobile termination charges was referred to the Competition Commission by the Competition Appeal Tribunal following formal complaints by the dominant landline operator BT and H3G, the owner of 3 UK.

The Tribunal now has to decide whether to accept the Commission's recommendations. If it does so, the Tribunal will direct Ofcom to issue new mobile termination charge rulings. The substance of BT's original complaint was that Ofcom based its calculations on what the UK mobile operators paid for their 3G licences rather than what they are actually worth. Because Ofcom planned that the process of mobile termination charge reduction should take place over the period 2007-2011, the Competition Commission's ruling means some parties have overpaid. If the ruling is approved Ofcom will have to come up with a formula to recompense those affected.

For more on this story:
- go to The Register and Cellular News

Related stories:
EU: Big changes lie ahead for mobile termination rates
U.K.'s 3 hit by competition authority ruling

Ofcom ruling to hit 3UK revenues hard

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Despite arguing that a decision forcing 3UK to cut its termination charges would severely damage its future revenues, the U.K. regulator Ofcom has stated that the operator must reduce the costs it imposes on rival companies to connect phone calls to its network by a hard-hitting 45 per cent.

Earlier this year, the owners of 3UK, Hutchison Whampoa, said that it's money-draining 3G unit finally achieved its cash flow target and that, "barring any further unfavourable regulatory or market developments, 3UK would turn a new page in 2008 on a path to achieve positive monthly EBIT on a sustainable basis in the second half of 2008 and full year positive EBIT in 2009."

Regardless, the Competition Appeal Tribunal that heard 3UK's viewpoint noted that mobile operators had traditionally set the rates at levels 'much higher' than the costs of connecting calls to their networks. It said the operators had used some of the income to subsidise deals they offered customers.

For more on this story:
-read Telecoms.com and Telegeography

Related stories:
3UK loses number portability legal battle. 3UK story
FUD surrounds new U.K. 3G spectrum auction. Spectrum auction

Will WiMAX be shut out of U.K. 2.6 GHz auction?

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:59:57 -0400

Speculation is growing that WiMAX players may have a tough time getting spectrum in the U.K.'s upcoming 2.6 GHz spectrum auction. The Office of Communications has allocated a certain amount of spectrum for time division duplex (TDD) and a certain amount of spectrum for frequency division duplex (FDD). WiMAX, of course, uses TDD and LTE uses FDD. Because of this there is concern that U.K. mobile operators will snatch up the TDD spectrum to keep WiMAX from being deployed by a new entrant.

According to Unstrung, the rules outlined by OfCom leave considerable risk of spectrum hoarding. However OfCom says that the spectrum rules are designed to promote competition because the agency hasn't designated the spectrum for a specific use and there are no rollout obligations.

For more:
- see this article

Related story:
Ofcom to free up 2G spectrum for 3G use. See this Ofcom story

U.K. regulator receives £10m funding from mobile operators

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

The minutes of a U.K. government committee have revealed that the mobile operators contributed over £10 million towards the running costs of Ofcom, the U.K. telecoms regulator.

While the U.K. operators have long remained silent with regard to their contributions, the head of Ofcom, Ed Richards, has confirmed to a U.K. member of parliament that Orange paid £2.5 million towards Ofcom's overall costs of around £130 million. However, with network revenue increasing and Ofcom's operating budget decreasing by 5 per cent to £126.7 million, the percentage contributed by networks is expected to grow.

For more on this story:
- read Mobile Business

U.K. regulator receives £10m funding from mobile operators

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

The minutes of a U.K. government committee have revealed that the mobile operators contributed over £10 million towards the running costs of Ofcom, the U.K. telecoms regulator.

For more on this story:
- read Mobile Business

Ofcom proposals--U.K. operators react

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:59:57 -0400

U.K. mobile operators have extended a cautious and qualified welcome to Ofcom's announcement of plans to address the problems of misselling of mobile phone contracts. The general view was that the voluntary code of conduct agreed last year was able to deal with these problems without the need for legal enforcement. If adopted, Ofcom's proposals will see the introduction of a legally enforceable code that operators will have to adhere to under the Communications Act 2003. Mobile operators would be required to ensure customers are fully informed of any contracts they are entering, to ensure cashback terms and conditions offered by retailers are fair, and to carry out checks on retailers. Failure to stick to the rules could result in a fine of up to 10 per cent of operator's turnover. Ofcom is looking for feedback on the proposals by the end of April with a view to introducing the new code by the summer of 2008. Ofcom says it is taking the legal route because the number of complaints it has received about misselling have risen since the introduction of the voluntary code, up to 700 a month on average from 400+ complaints in the month prior to when the code was launched.

For further information:
- go to Mobile Europe and Mobile News

Competition Commission to rule on termination fees

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:59:55 -0400

BT's ongoing battle with Ofcom over the issue of mobile termination fees has been referred to the U.K. Competition Commission for resolution. Ofcom introduced the new termination fees in April 2007 but BT argues that the regulator used the wrong formula in calculating the fee structure. BT loses out because it has to pay mobile operators every time one of its fixed-line subscribers calls a mobile number. In BT's corner is 3UK which used to get a special deal on termination fees because it was the new kid on the block and had the fewest customers. O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone are largely unaffected by the new fee structure. Given that the industry believes that termination fees are likely to be abolished in the near future the arguments seem redundant but the new structure is costing the aggrieved parties significant sums of money so presumably it is worth battling on.

For further information:
- go to The Register