Battle begins over radio spectrum allocation

FT Europe reports that a clash between Europe’s leading mobilephone operators and television broadcasters is expected today asthe phone groups make what the paper calls a “pitch to secure a bigchunk of the “digital dividend” radio spectrum”.

The paper say that Vodafone, Telefonica and Orange havecommissioned a report calling for mobile operators to be allocated25 per cent of the spectrum which is being freed up by theswitchover from analogue to digital television.

The report claims that giving mobile operators access to thedigital dividend spectrum could be worth up to €165bn to consumersand companies.

The paper adds that although telecoms groups believe they shouldhave more band-width on the spectrum for wireless broadbandservices such as e-mail and fast web surfing on mobile phones, TVbroadcasters do not want to give up their allocations as theyintend to use it for new services such as high definitiontelevision.

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