Ofcom Suggest 70.5 MHz for Internet of Things

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In April Ofcom announced radio amateurs would have access to 70.5-71.5 MHz but now they are consulting on plans to use it as one of the bands for the Internet of Things (IoT) 

Ofcom say they intend to encourage investment and innovation in the Internet of Things by using 10 MHz of existing spectrum for new applications.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to enable large numbers of previously unconnected devices to communicate and share data with one another via ‘Machine-to-Machine’ communications (M2M).

Ofcom’s aim is to encourage M2M applications to use spectrum that will enable them to connect wirelessly over longer distances. This VHF spectrum has different properties to other frequencies, already in use for the IoT, and can reach distant locations which other frequencies may not.

Ofcom believes access to spectrum in this range could open new opportunities and bring benefits to citizens and consumers, especially those in remote and rural parts of the UK. The frequencies being made available span the 55-68 MHz, 70.5-71.5 MHz and 80.5-81.5 MHz bands.

Ofcom is also seeking views on whether any changes to the existing licence products are necessary in order to promote innovative uses in these bands, especially for serving rural and remote locations.

There are already more than 40 million devices connected via the IoT in the UK alone. This is forecast to grow more than eight-fold by 2022, with hundreds of millions of devices carrying out more than a billion daily data transactions.

The consultation closes on 12th November 2015.

Consultation information and online response form - 
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/radio-spectrum-internet-of-things/

Link to consultation PDF document - 
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/radio-spectrum-internet-of-things/summary/more_radio_spectrum_internet_of_things.pdf

Expected September Release of 5 MHz in Netherlands

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Dutch Amateur / Ham Radio operators may soon have secondary rights access to the 5350-5450 kHz frequency from September 2015

The primary users of the frequency range including the Dutch military - have already agreed to this frequency allocation. Currently, the provisions according to still runs the option of the opposition on the part of the public (individuals and businesses), this opposition period expires on 21 August 2015. 

It is expected that the official release of the 60m band for amateur radio use will be confirmed within weeks in the Official Journal. 

Dutch radio amateurs may have less power usage rights on this frequency, down from the permitted 400W.

More inforamtion - (DARC in Google English) - http://tinyurl.com/GermanyDARC

Ofcom - HF Broadcast Licensing Position

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Peter Eckersley used the United Kingdom's Freedom of Information (FoI) Requests procedure to discover Ofcom's position on the licensing of HF broadcast stations in the UK

“Regarding your e-mail dated 23 July, your understanding is correct that HF frequencies require to be co-ordinated internationally, and that Ofcom has no plans to license any new shortwave frequencies. This is because the government’s stated policy is for broadcast radio to gradually move away from analogue transmission towards digital means of transmission, and DAB in particular.

One factual correction I would like to make from our previous response on this issue….Ofcom licenses the HF transmissions of the BBC World Service under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, and not under powers granted to Ofcom in the BBC’s Charter.”
— Ofcom Reply