On 15 February the European Parliament approved the first European Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP) for further co-ordination of spectrum usage across the EU Member States. In particular the new legislation obliges Member States to designate the 800MHz band for wireless broadband services by 1 January 2013. (EU press release, full decision)
The digital switch-over and harmonisation of spectrum usage in the resulting digital-dividend spectrum is a central piece in the EU’s Digital Agenda. Accordingly a number of European countries have already awarded usage licences for the 800MHz band, while many other are in the process of awarding such licences in the course of 2012. DotEcon is advising several European regulators on these upcoming spectrum awards and has implemented a number of recent spectrum auctions.