LONDON-U.K. telecom regulator Ofcom detailed steps it plans to take to introduce spectrum trading in the country by the end of the year. Spectrum trading will allow license holders to buy and sell their rights in an open market, Ofcom said.
The following license classes can begin spectrum trading in December: analog public-access mobile radio, national paging, data networks, national and regional private business radio, common base stations, fixed wireless access, scanning telemetry and fixed terrestrial links.
Additional license classes will become tradable in 2005 and the next two years, Ofcom said. In September and November, Ofcom plans to release further details on regulations covering spectrum trading.
“Historically, spectrum has been managed through a top-down centrally run approach, in which governments controlled every aspect of the allocation for the rights to use wireless communications services. Ofcom believes that this approach reduces scope for the most efficient use of available spectrum. Users tend to be better placed than governments to decide how best to meet market demand,” the regulator said.
