ADSL Broadband
Best Broadband
Cable Broadband
Free Broadband
Fastest Broadband
20Mb Broadband
50Mb Broadband
Fibre-Optic Broadband
Mobile broadband 'would provide access for rural populations'
Monday 16th February 2009, by Daniel King
The mobile phone industry has pledged to invest in the development of universal broadband - if regulators are prepared to free up 25 per cent of the digital dividend spectrum.
European governments are set to decide how to use the segment of the radio spectrum that will become free once the switchover to digital television is complete.
The network is ideal for mobile broadband because it allows signals to be transmitted at high speeds over long distances.
According to the Guardian, industry body the GSM Association (GSMA) has called on governments and regulators to set aside a quarter of the spectrum for use by mobile broadband providers.
The organisation believes that this would enable mobile services to be extended into rural and remote areas where it is difficult to deploy fixed-line infrastructure and fibre-optic networks.
Michael O'Hara, chief executive of the GSMA, said: "The mobile phone industry is calling for 25 per cent of the digital dividend spectrum to be made available for the mobile industry."
"It must be harmonised across Europe so we all have the same bit."
Mr O'Hara added that, if the spectrum is made available, the industry would be prepared to invest in new services in order to make broadband access available to households and businesses in rural locations.
The calls come after a report by Analysys Mason claimed that the total number of mobile broadband connections across Europe will rise to almost 150 million within the next five years.
It predicted an annual growth rate of 46 per cent, as more customers look to adopt mobile connections as a complement to their home internet services.
Categories: Broadband
