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Wireless Federation » archive for 'Ofcom'

Ofcom speculates spectrum sale in March’09 (UK)

  • November 3rd, 2008
  • 12:18 pm

Ofcom, UK telecoms regulator issues an update on the progress towards the spectrum sale in 2GHz band, stating that it expects the conclusion of all legal action related to the matter by February’09; the sale itself would then likely take place in March’09.
Challenges to the sale have come from mobile operators T-Mobile and O2, both of which have deny any auction for spectrum until a decision is made by the regulator concerning spectrum in the 900MHz band.
Spectrum in the 900MHz band is currently limited by licence to GSM 2G technology, but it has been speculated that the licence could be updated to include 3G or 4G.

   

Ofcom reports 85% of British Adults are mobile (UK)

  • August 28th, 2008
  • 8:33 am

Ofcom reports 85% of the UK’s adult population have a mobile now and has become a part of their lives.

The number of mobile phone subscribers in the UK is over 70 million, the number higher than the population of 60 million of the country.
The households tend to have mobile phones rather than fixed line.
Figures for the market include:

  • Number of mobile connections: 74 million
  • Number of mobile voice calls: 115.6 minutes per month per subscriber
  • Number of SMS and MMS messages sent: 59.1 billion
  • Average time spent texting and calling per mobile connection: 10 minutes per day.

“The UK has the most competitive mobile industry in Europe - with five operators and a healthy number of virtual network operators competing to offer services,” Ofcom said.

“The sector generates over £15bn a year - 51 per cent of overall retail revenue for telecoms in the UK. The mobile sector now produces more revenue than fixed voice and broadband services combined.” it added.

Ofcom further delays 3G auction (UK)

  • August 18th, 2008
  • 6:29 am

Ofcom, the British regulator, will not, reportedly, auction off three blocks of 2.6GHz spectrum in October.

The spectrum which was intended to be last year got delayed to october this year due to legal action by T-Mobile and O2 pointing at the future usage of existing spectrum.  Both T-Mobile and O2 contend that until they know the future of existing spectrum they cannot accurately assess the value of the 26GHz spectrum.

There hasn’t been any announcements regarding auction by Ofcom.
   

Ofcom delays 3G auction as O2 and T-Mobile challenge the regulator legally (UK)

  • August 7th, 2008
  • 8:46 am

Ofcom, UK, has further delayed the 3G spectrum expansion, as the auction process is being legally challenged by T-Mobile and O2.

Application for spectrum were to be invited in July initially but as now that has been delayed.

The operators were not satisfied with Ofcom’s paln to auction more 3G spectrum.

A statement from the regulator, issued, says: ‘Litigation is currently ongoing and we continue to press for it to be progressed as expeditiously as possible. In the meantime, we have decided that we will not call for applications in September or October 2008.’

   

Ofcom reaches in-flight,doubts high tariff (UK)

  • July 30th, 2008
  • 6:22 am

Ofcom leading communication regulator has moved a step closer for in-flight mobile use. Radio equipment is required for mobile communications on aircraft (MCA) which would be licensed under the 2006 Wireless Telegraphy Act. For UK aircraft operators the licenses will be issued on request. According to Ofcom EU regulators would have to approve any system as would the European Aviation Safety Agency and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Also calls will not be permitted when planes are below 3,000ft.

With the announcement of this security issue has come under the shadow. They raised concerns about passengers welfare and the potential for discomfort, anti-social behaviour and air rage on board.

According to the regulators, “These issues are outside Ofcom’s remit and it will be for these regulatory bodies to consider the safety, welfare and security issues relevant to them.”

Ofcom said there had also been concerns about the cost of making calls from planes. It said: “Ofcom is concerned about this issue as tariffs may well be high relative to other mobile communication services and there is a danger that consumers will receive unexpectedly high bills.

“Ofcom will be talking to all concerned parties to understand what steps can be taken to ensure consumers understand the costs of making calls from on board an aircraft. Ofcom will monitor this situation closely.”

Ofcom sets 2-hour deadline for mobile number porting (UK)

  • November 30th, 2007
  • 2:01 pm

UK regulator Ofcom set new rules to allow consumers keep their mobile number when they switch providers. Under the new rules, consumers will be able to receive calls using their existing number within two hours of moving to a new mobile network. The rules are expected to strengthen competition and consumer convenience, and it will also help protect consumers from the risk of losing calls if their old providers’ network fails. The move follows Ofcom’s earlier decision to reduce mobile number porting lead times from five days to two days from 1 April 2008. Two-hour transfers for mobile numbers must now be implemented by 1 September 2009. In addition, mobile operators will have to ensure that the new porting process includes the necessary levels of protection for consumers. Ofcom also advises mobile operators to co-operate to create a common regulated database to handle calls in order to bring more efficient call routing. This will ensure that consumers are not affected by problems with their old their network, after they have ported their number. The new database will remove dependency on the previous network by routing calls to ported numbers directly to the new provider’s network without the need for the call to travel over the previous network.

   

Ofcom opens consultation on NGA broadband networks (UK)

  • September 27th, 2007
  • 2:06 pm

UK regulator Ofcom has published a consultation paper analysing the outlook for future broadband Next Generation Access (NGA) networks. Ofcom has concluded that regulation clarity is needed to support investment in NGA infrastructure. The aim of this regulatory regime will be to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy the benefits of a competitive and dynamic market and that potential investors have clarity on how their investment will be regulated. Ofcom proposes a regulatory policy based on the same principles it established for current-generation broadband. The public consultation closes on 05 December.

   

Google ‘might’ consider wireless spectrum bid (UK)

  • September 25th, 2007
  • 3:05 pm

British broadsheet The Guardian has reported that Google could be mulling a bid for part of the UK’s 900MHz wireless frequency spectrum that will be auctioned off by the telecoms regulator in 2009. Ofcom is planning to take back a slice of the 900MHz band from Vodafone and O2 in order to re-purpose the spectrum for 3G use. Google is also widely believed to be considering bidding on the forthcoming US 700MHz spectrum auction.

   

 

Ofcom proposes mobile spectrum liberalisation (UK)

  • September 21st, 2007
  • 2:45 pm

UK regulator Ofcom has proposed a number of changes to the use of mobile spectrum, including freeing up part of the 900MHz band and removing technology restrictions. In line with an expected EU directive, the regulator will allow UMTS services in the 900 MHz band. The regulator is also proposing that Vodafone and O2 give up some of their share of 900 MHz spectrum, allowing three other operators to use the band. The extra spectrum could be auctioned as early as 2009. Ofcom also proposes to remove technology-specific restrictions on the use of the 1800 MHz band, and to make licences tradable, giving the current holders the option to transfer rights to use the spectrum to another party. These changes could take place in 2008. Similar changes could also be applied to the spectrum band currently used for 3G services, at 2100MHz. A consultation on the proposals is open until 29 November.

   

Ofcom moves to cut off mobile phone mis-selling

  • August 5th, 2007
  • 2:30 pm

Have you been offered a free upgrade on a mobile phone - only to find yourself locked into an expensive contract? Or perhaps you’ve been switched from one supplier to another without your consent? Then you’ve been slammed - and telecom regulator Ofcom has ordered phone companies to clean up their act or face heavy fines.
The phone industry this week unveiled a new, but voluntary, code of practice aimed at reducing the 400 complaints a month Ofcom receives about mobile phone mis-selling.

Under the new code, mobile networks will no longer be able to fob off customers with excuses that the problem is the responsibility of a third-party company that sold them the new phone or service.
Over recent months, Guardian Money has featured many readers who have been slammed by sales companies pretending to work for Orange.

The customer typically gets a call from a salesman who says he works for the company and is offered a new phone upgrade, or some other financial inducement. Only later does the customer find they are locked into a new 18-month contract. But when they complain to Orange, the network tells them that it’s not Orange’s problem, and that the contract stands.

According to Ofcom, such behaviour will no longer be tolerated under the new code and Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone and 3 have all agreed to be bound by its terms.

Staff may only call prospective customers at a “reasonable” time of day, they must clearly state which firm they represent, and ensure clear contracts are provided. Any cash-back deals must not be subject to the customer paying a fee or “unreasonably short” claim periods, the new rules say.

Ofcom says it will be looking for an “instant” reduction in the number of complaints it receives and says enforcement action will be taken if the code isn’t seen to have worked.

Citizens Advice social policy officer Tony Herbert says the voluntary code is long overdue: “The number of mobile phone problems seen by CAB increased by 84% in the nine months from April to December last year to around 6,000 in total.

“Many of the cases reported involve people being browbeaten into accepting a new mobile phone, being sent a phone against their express wishes, or being hoodwinked into agreeing to a new mobile phone contract.

“These sales tactics are not only unfair and misleading, but can also result in the customer concerned being pushed into debt through no fault of their own.”