Ofcom and EU announce Mobile TV plans

Telecomms regulator Ofcom has said it’s going to auction the so-called L band of frequencies that run from 1452 to 1492MHz in the middle of the GSM spectrum. The EU has suggested that the spectrum should be reserved for mobile TV, although Ofcom hasn’t set any such criteria on the auction. The L band sale will probably take place at the end of April and – as well as being useful for Mobile TV services – is also likely to appeal to companies looking to offer satellite digital radio and broadband wireless access. A couple of days after this announcement came news that the European Commission was officially endorsing DVB-H as the recommended Mobile TV standard for all its members.