WiMAX Forum Supports European Commission Decision on Harmonization of the 2.6 GHz Frequency Band
Portable Design News, Friday July 04, 2008
The WiMAX Forum has announced its support of the European Commission’s regulation relating to the 2.6 GHz (2500-2690MHz) frequency band. The 2.3, 2.6 and 3.5 GHz frequencies are key bands for Mobile WiMAX technology and will contribute to providing suitable spectrum for WiMAX consumer and business services around the world.
The 2.6 GHz decision was unanimously supported in the European Commission’s Radio Spectrum Committee, and it affords European Union administrations to make decisions in relation to the technology, services and usage that can be deployed within the band. It also offers administrations flexibility over the balance of paired (FDD) and unpaired (TDD) spectrum that can be awarded to operators, and provides the essential technical framework. The intention is that the market can decide which technology to deploy in this band, determine the most appropriate use of this spectrum, and create significant opportunities through opening the spectrum which will benefit all consumers. 
This decision was made in addition to the recently published European Commission Decision 2008/411/EC harmonising the 3.5 GHz band for electronic communications services and represents a key milestone in the drive to advance new liberalised approaches to spectrum management within the European Commission WAPECS (“Wireless Access Policy for Electronic Communications Services”) initiative.
With the 2.6 GHz regulations now in place, EU administrations can proceed with spectrum awards for this band as a matter of priority.
The WiMAX Forum Subscriber and User Forecast Study projects that growth within the region is expected to be strong, especially in Eastern Europe where cable and fixed broadband Internet is less prevalent. Europe had the second highest WiMAX user penetration by the end of 2007 and is anticipated to have the largest number of operators, followed by Asia Pacific, Af¬rica/Middle East, Americas and North America.
According to the same report, by 2012 there will be more than 133 million WiMAX users globally and approximately 70 percent of forecasted WiMAX users will utilize mobile and portable WiMAX devices to access broadband Internet services. Currently there are more than 305 deployments of WiMAX services in 118 countries worldwide.
WiMAX Forum, Beaverton, OR (503) 924-2922 [www.wimaxforum.org]
