Broadcasting Airwaves To Be Freed-up

The Government has published details of the progress made to free up what is called 'publicly-held spectrum'.
This is the medium used for satellite television broadcasts and wireless communications and is the basis for everything from mobile phones to radar, and even global positioning systems.
It is a valuable but scarce resource and the public sector currently holds around half of the most useful spectrum.
The December update follows the publication in March of a UK action plan, Enabling UK Growth - Releasing public spectrum. The plan set out how the Government would meet its target of releasing 500 MHz of public sector spectrum by 2020.
Government departments have been working to identify bands for release and today's document sets out a shortlist of those bands.
"We are making real progress on opening up this spectrum to the businesses that can use it to drive growth," said Communications Minister Ed Vaizey, (pictured).
"It is essential this valuable resource is used efficiently and that means releasing spectrum the public sector does not need."
The industry was asked for their views on the Government's plans and the update document includes a summary of responses, which have been fed into our plans.
Commenting on today's publication, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Sassoon said: "Spectrum is an important driver of economic growth and innovation and has enormous value to society.
"Today's update on progress sends a clear signal of the Government's determination to realise the full potential of spectrum to support economic growth."
(BMcC)