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UK Approves of 5.8GHz For Rural Broadband

Posted by Hemos on from the making-best-use-of-the-air-waves dept.

Tandoori Haggis writes "BBC News reports a major decision by UK Government to approve the use of 5.8 GHz C-band for use with wireless broadband. A prime consideration is the desire to provide broadband access for rural areas where broadband cable might be prohibitively expensive to impliment. Previously there had been resistance to freeing up 5.8GHz because it is in an area of the RF spectrum used by C-band radars."

7 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. An article with more details... by tcopeland · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...on the issues involved in deregulating this part of the spectrum can be found here.

    --
    The Army reading list
    1. Re:An article with more details... by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 4, Informative

      ... which contradicts the slashdot headline completely.

      The real story appears to be that the frequency will *not* be deregulated - you'll still have to apply for a license. The difference is now you have a slight hope of getting one.

  2. Great last mile solution.... by micker · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is great, we need to see it here in the States. This would help with Last mile issues out west or in the farmlands. Or, I could use this from my apartment and still get a signal at my favorite bar.... I like that...

    --
    Words are only yours until someone else uses them...
  3. C Band Radar for Defense? by nharmon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From the article:

    [i]"The Ministry of Defence had resisted opening up the spectrum because it has radar systems operating in Band C of the 5GHz part of the spectrum."[/i]

    Perhaps the UK should stop using C band radars for military purposes, and get with the times by upgrading to L-band or X-band radar.

    C-band is acceptabe for weather radar, but even then, you would be more worried about weather radar obstructing broadband connections...not the other way around.

  4. Cheap? by dave1g · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "Opening this band is expected to boost the development of fixed wireless access services, such as low cost internet access in areas not currently reached by broadband services," said the DTI in a statement. "

    Isn't fixed wireless in the states actually pretty expensive? How are they going to do it cheaply in the UK?

    I thought the real selling point of fixed wireless was that these rural areas finally get to have access, and, being deprived of anything near as fast, would pay a relatively high price for it.

  5. Re:Already done by VaderPi · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The problem is that there needs to be incentive (read profit more than cost) for them to implement it since they are private companies.
    It is situations like this where local governments (or even, gasp, the federal government) should provide infrastructure for its constituents. If interstate highway development were left to private companies, I bet that it would be much more difficult to get orders from the West to East coast via ground transportation in seven days. As soon as governments recognize that Internet access is a form of infrastructure for communication and commerce things might improve here in the US.
  6. Re:military by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 4, Insightful
    crazy to share the band with the military...

    'Sfunny that's true of GPS too. GPS is still a useful system; yes, you can theoretically get stomped on.

    it realy does seem like licensing without guarantee of service...

    Yes, well, neither does the internet.

    The military can shut you down and creat exclusion zones

    Yes, well, that's life. If it is really bad you complain to your politician.

    and they could theoretically raise the licensing fee at a later date

    Yes. Death and Taxes.

    --

    -WolfWithoutAClause

    "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"