Ofcom to allow 4G on 900MHz and 2100MHz

Everything GoesEverything Goes Posts: 12,972
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Ofcom are proposing to allow the use of 4G on 900MHz, 2100MHz and 1800MHz. EE are already allowed 4G on 1800MHz and this is an extension of what has already been undertaken. Bandwidth permitting of course!

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/variation-900-1800-2100/summary

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/variation-900-1800-2100/summary/condoc.pdf

Comments

  • DevonBlokeDevonBloke Posts: 6,835
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    Could be interesting for Three. Don't know how many handsets actually do LTE over 2100 though.
  • legends wear 7legends wear 7 Posts: 2,102
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    IPhone 5 for one
  • The Lord LucanThe Lord Lucan Posts: 5,054
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    I was hoping this didn't happen. For the reasons that I would have liked 3G coverage and spectrum protected for a good few years yet. With the same spectrum being used for 4G we'll see a few years of half arsed 3G and half arsed 4G trying to share the same airwaves. Capacity won't be there. At least until they kill off 3G.

    At least with the new spectrum up for auction they would be user soley for that purpose. Combined it may work out ok but might be ok. We don't notice it with 2G as its not fast enough to do much with anyways.

    However this should work out really well for Vodafone and EE seeing they have a load of 2100 spectrum and quite good for Voda/O2 with 900..
  • DevonBlokeDevonBloke Posts: 6,835
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    IPhone 5 for one

    Oh yeah, Duh :)
  • psionicpsionic Posts: 20,188
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    Don't the lower frequencies like 900MHz have better penetration through thick walls, buildings and other obstacles?
  • wavejockglwwavejockglw Posts: 10,596
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    psionic wrote: »
    Don't the lower frequencies like 900MHz have better penetration through thick walls, buildings and other obstacles?

    Very much so especially with increased power output (as proposed) and this latest relaxation of the use of frequency ranges may make it worthwhile for some operators to subsidise the migration of GSM customers from 900MHz freeing up more bandwidth for 3G and now LTE.

    I expect all of the networks now bidding for spectrum in the 4G auction will already have taken account of this change as it has been rumoured since EE got LTE allowed on 1800MHz.
  • jabbamk1jabbamk1 Posts: 8,942
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    Don't think the reusing of spectrum will happen for a while.

    But what i want to know is will handsets support it. At the moment it'll be fine as handsets use 800/1800/2600 which is used in asia/europe.

    But not many countries will use 700/900/2100mhz. And there are no handsets at all that currently support all these frequencies. so will the UK get special versions of the phones?
  • psionicpsionic Posts: 20,188
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    ^^ Thanks for the detailed explanation :)
  • joshua_welbyjoshua_welby Posts: 9,017
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    jabbamk1 wrote: »
    Don't think the reusing of spectrum will happen for a while.

    But what i want to know is will handsets support it. At the moment it'll be fine as handsets use 800/1800/2600 which is used in asia/europe.

    But not many countries will use 700/900/2100mhz. And there are no handsets at all that currently support all these frequencies. so will the UK get special versions of the phones?

    The UK will get special versions of the phones as they currently do now, I am holding off 4G at the moment as my provider Three does not currently support it, in fact none of the other networks do either accept for EE,
    plus the Auction for 4G is underway and has not finished even after two weeks, no announcements have been made apart from that the Auction is underway and that they are using special software for the bidding process
  • huwdwhuwdw Posts: 643
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    Will this devalue the spectrum currently up for sale?
  • jabbamk1jabbamk1 Posts: 8,942
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    The UK will get special versions of the phones as they currently do now, I am holding off 4G at the moment as my provider Three does not currently support it, in fact none of the other networks do either accept for EE,
    plus the Auction for 4G is underway and has not finished even after two weeks, no announcements have been made apart from that the Auction is underway and that they are using special software for the bidding process

    But that's the thing? We don't get special versions of the phones. We get the european version along with every other european version. And as far as i'm aware not all of europe will use 900 or 700 on 4G.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 4,890
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    jabbamk1 wrote: »
    But that's the thing? We don't get special versions of the phones. We get the european version along with every other european version. And as far as i'm aware not all of europe will use 900 or 700 on 4G.

    The UK is one of the biggest markets for smartphones in the world it's in the top 3. We will get special phones, or more likely they will just develop new chips that will receive LTE on the above mentioned frequencies.
  • 12december198412december1984 Posts: 1,033
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    The Nokia Lumia 920 also works on these bands.
  • Thine WonkThine Wonk Posts: 17,190
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    A new generation of cells and phones will be able to support different generations on various frequencies I think.

    However for now the networks probably don't have any plans to start using those frequencies for LTE. Just because it is allowed doesn't mean it will be used.

    I think this is Ofcom just saying... look there will be other frequencies that LTE can potentially be used on as well, something they didn't do with 3G.

    That is why timing wise it's important operators and the tech press known this as the bidding is currently taking place for 800 and 2600.
  • wavejockglwwavejockglw Posts: 10,596
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    huwdw wrote: »
    Will this devalue the spectrum currently up for sale?

    No because all of the mobile networks need additional bandwidth to provide data services to cope with increasing demand. The relaxation allowing LTE on 900,1800 and 2100Mhz is welcome but it has to be considered alongside the existing user requirements which cannot be changed in the sort term.
  • The Lord LucanThe Lord Lucan Posts: 5,054
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    How a few months change things..

    http://www.zdnet.com/uk/why-o2-and-vodafone-wont-be-reusing-900mhz-for-4g-lte-7000004357/

    Anyone know how much spectrum each have of 900?
  • jabbamk1jabbamk1 Posts: 8,942
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    Article is basically saying what im saying, the frequencies will not work with most handsets and nno other country/region will use all these frequencies so it may not work if there are no handsets to support these frequencies.

    Although I do agree with thine wonk that we may see a new generation of 4g handsets with support in the future.
  • The Lord LucanThe Lord Lucan Posts: 5,054
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    Qualcomm already working on a chip that does them all.. normally iPhone, Nokia etc use the chips from them so within the next revision or so they will do 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 LTE.
  • Ultraman1966Ultraman1966 Posts: 271
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    Surely by the time they actually have a decent network setup with those non EU LTE frequencies, we'll have a large selection of phones which are compatible?
  • Step666Step666 Posts: 1,284
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    jabbamk1 wrote: »
    But that's the thing? We don't get special versions of the phones.
    Actually we do.
    As small a thing as it might seem, the UK plug means we get a special version.

    Manufacturers can and do shift stock between other EU countries as and when needs dictate.
    Instead of manufacturing more units if France is running low, they can potentially move some from Germany or Italy or wherever. If they need extra stock in the UK, that tends to mean a new batch being manufactured and shipped out - it's partly why Samsung tablets were so thin on the ground around Christmas and New Year, they were having to manufacture more units and ship them into the country from wherever exactly it is they're produced (a 2-week turnaround) instead of getting stock moved in a couple of days.


    Long term though, I very much expect LTE modems to support a wider range of bands very soon, with maybe the individual handset's firmware controlling which ones are enabled and which are not.


    Anyone know how much spectrum each have of 900?
    Only O2 and Vodafone have any, about 15-20MHz each if memory serves (though I could well be wrong).


    Qualcomm already working on a chip that does them all.. normally iPhone, Nokia etc use the chips from them so within the next revision or so they will do 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 LTE.
    There's also 700, 850, 1500, 1700, 1900, 2300, 2500, 2700 and even 3400MHz bands in use in various parts of the world already.
    700 and 1700 are use in the US in particular, so any 'universal' LTE modem would definitely support them.
  • GormondGormond Posts: 15,838
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    Step666 wrote: »
    There's also 700, 850, 1500, 1700, 1900, 2300, 2500, 2700 and even 3400MHz bands in use in various parts of the world already.
    700 and 1700 are use in the US in particular, so any 'universal' LTE modem would definitely support them.

    The Nvidia Tegra 4 has a SDR (Software Defined Radio) so it shouldn't have any issues supporting various frequencies.

    And before you mention it I am aware only the radio is software based and many parts such as duplexers and filters are still hardware.

    It does however mean that the manufacturer of the phone can use this chip with what ever frequencies they like.
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