Call to open airwaves for 3G

Mobile phone body wants more spectrum for 3G networks

The GSMA wants to open up the airwaves for 3G

The mobile phone industry is calling for regulators to open up the airwaves to make high-speed 3G services available to another 300 million people.

Global trade body the GSM Association (GSMA) wants regulators to open up the 900MHz spectrum to mobile phone operators alongside the 2100MHz frequency currently used.

Opening up the spectrum to more 3G services will allow operators to expand their networks more cheaply and deliver to a further 300 million people in Europe, Africa and Asia.

High start-up costs have deterred some mobile phone operators from rolling out 3G networks, but using 900MHz spectrum instead of 2100Hz would cut costs significantly, says the GSMA.

The group says using the more popular 900MHz band would achieve up to 40 per cent greater coverage than the 2100MHz spectrum for the same cost.

‘As well as requiring lower up-front investments than 3G at 2100MHz, a 3G network at 900MHz is more cost-efficient and is better at handling both voice and data traffic,’ said Ovum analyst Stewart Anderton.

‘But 900MHz is one of the most used spectrum bands in the world and regulators must be careful to avoid interference with existing GSM services or interference across national borders.’