Radio waves can cross national borders which can present difficult challenges when assigning spectrum in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. For the first time, Ofcom and ComReg have come together to auction spectrum for a license covering all of Ireland.
Ofcom, together with ComReg – the Commission for Communication Regulation in the Republic of Ireland – today announced proposals to award licences to use spectrum frequencies in the band 1785-1805MHz. This marks the first time the two regulators have adopted a coordinated approach to awarding spectrum to benefit businesses and consumers throughout the island of Ireland.
Ofcom said that spectrum in the 1785-1805MHz band could be used for services such as broadband wireless access (fixed and mobile), digital video links, CCTV, mobile technologies and wireless microphones. The licences are expected to be awarded by auction in 2006.
The regulators think that having a combined license will allow operators to use the spectrum more efficiently and to take advantage of economies of scale across a larger market. It is hope that consumers could have access to identical services that are provided seamlessly on both sides of the border. An integrated award process might also enable cost-effective provision of wireless services to remote border areas and encourage more balanced regional development.
The key elements of the award are:
* there will be a single licence awarded by ComReg in the Republic of Ireland and another soon after by Ofcom in Northern Ireland;
* both auctions will be decided by a single round of sealed bids and the winning bidder will pay the second highest price bid;
* the licences will be technology and application neutral;
* the Northern Ireland licence will be tradeable and have an indefinite term, with an initial minimum period of 15 years;
* the reserve price for the Northern Ireland licence will be £50,000.