European Commission pushes RF spectrum strategy
The European Commission has made two frequency bands in the radio spectrum available for wireless access systems, also known as Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi and broadband wireless communications technologies such as WiMAX are seen as key future markets for GaAs-based RF semiconductors.
The decision to open up the 5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.47-5.725 GHz bands is accompanied by a move to introduce "innovative spectrum management approaches", which the Commission believes will protect other RF spectrum applications, such as military radar and satellite services, from damaging interference.
"The decision will help industry to create innovative services, such as voice over IP, for a single European market," said Viviane Reding, the Information Society and Media Commissioner. "High-speed electronic communication networks are essential to Europe's competitiveness."
According to a Commission statement, the so-called "i2010" initiative will pave the way to an open, competitive single market for wireless access systems in the European Member States.
"Access to this spectrum with common rules will make equipment cheaper and alleviate the growing overloading of spectrum already used for this purpose. It will facilitate the take-up of wireless systems, from corporate networks to hotspots in airports, train stations, shopping malls and hotels."
Estimates put the current number of worldwide Wi-Fi users at 120 million, including 25 million in Western Europe. Over 500 million worldwide users are expected by 2008.
In a presentation to the European Institute in Washington, DC, last week, Reding said that the time had come for policy convergence to match technology convergence.
According to the commissioner, flexibility of spectrum use is regarded as a key issue. "A debate is under way on a common spectrum approach for all wireless transmission platforms providing electronic communications services," she said.
Reding added that the European Commission would propose later this year a coherent strategy for efficient radio spectrum management. In another move that will affect the RF spectrum and devices that are used in broadcast applications, it is also proposing to switch off analog terrestrial television by 2012.
Another key theme in Reding's address concerned US-European co-operation on emerging technologies. In particular, Reding cited broadband communications and telematic technologies for intelligent vehicles.
