Comreg Propose Rural Wireless BB (min 384/64) Directive

spongebob

Comreg propose a system to give Universal 384/64 access in VERY rural areas, about 25% of the land area of the state. They are having a quick stage 2 consultation on it for teh next 4 weeks. Then a direction which means it could be live this year.

The GSM spectrum can handle NLOS Broadband at speeds up to 1Mbit per connection. It is cluttered however. The proposal in January/February (on the Comreg site) was to offer services in Addition to GSM services in RURAL areas where the spectrum was underutilised by Voodoofone Oh- Poo and Meteor .....I thought that 900Mhz spectrum was what they were considering as the USO was coming up and Voodoofone (anyway ) has been designated an SMP carrier. I was wrong It were the additional GSM spectrum around 1800Mhz. from what I can see in this Response to Consultation Document issued by them yesterday.

I must commend Comreg on the fortitude shown here and on their opening of the issues to FURTHER consultation from all of us. I strongly urge persons in rural areas to back them up in their enterprise (see the end of this post about the stage 2 consultation quations and contacts in Comreg).

"In line with Government objectives to achieve widespread availability of broadband
infrastructure and services throughout Ireland within the next three years ComReg
opened a consultation on extending broadband access within licensed GSM
spectrum. One of the operators responded with an interesting proposal to use 3G
type technology for this purpose which raises some broader questions. "

We care about everybody sez Comreg. I think that this is a damn fine piece of Regulatory thought lads, it may be dovetailed into the USO ......due almost 3 months ago ISTR ....in Rural areas.

"The consultation addressed four specific issues, namely:
• whether GSM 1800 MHz band spectrum could be used for the provision of
broadband wireless services;
• what type of technology would be most suitable to provide such services;
• the use of fixed external antennas to provide such services;
• limiting the amount of GSM spectrum that could be used to deliver such
services."

This is envisioned as an infill technology . It will provide lower grade FWA in very rural areas.

"Since the areas with low mobile traffic demand tend to be those that also have poor
access to broadband services, it is envisaged that part of the 1800 MHz spectrum
could be used by mobile operators to bring broadband wireless access to such areas.
This presents the opportunity for broadband access to be extended to areas that may
otherwise be beyond the reach of mainstream platforms such as DSL or FWA."

That means rural areas and probably very rural areas only. Maybe 25% of the land area of the state.

"Respondents:
• ArrayComm
• Esat BT
• European Access Providers Limited
• Irish Broadband
• Meteor Mobile Communications
• O2
• Simon Eades
• Tony Wade
• Vodafone
• Winchester White Consultants"

So now you know the 'respondents' mentioned from now on.


"Q. 1. Do you agree with the proposal to permit the use of GSM spectrum
to deliver other broadband wireless services, where this does
not conflict with the GSM operator meeting its licence
obligations to provide GSM mobile telephony services?
Q. 2. Do you have a view on whether alternative, non-GSM technologies
should be permitted for the delivery of other broadband wireless
services in GSM spectrum?
5.1.2 Views of Respondents
There were nine responses to Question 1. Four of the respondents were in favour of
this proposal. Two of the five respondents (both mobile operators) who were not in
favour were of the opinion that only GSM technology standards should be used
within the GSM 1800 MHz frequency band. One of these respondents claimed that
there was a scarcity of GSM 1800 MHz spectrum in urban areas and that any
additional spectrum allocations should be used to enhance mobile services. "

IE Can we use GSM spectrum for non GSM Wireless. YES in Rural areas.

"Another respondent suggested that the proposal would offer mobile operators an
unfair advantage over existing FWA operators through cross subsidization and
would represent a material change in the nature of the mobile operators’ existing
licences which would result in discrimination against FWA operators. "

Who was that then ? IBB ? LEAP aka EAP ? ESAT ? They all have an interest in FWA even though none of them supply it in Rural areas ...or seem likely to !

"This
respondent also stated that if a mobile operator wanted to deploy a broadband
wireless service, it could access the available FWA spectrum on the same basis as all
other FWA operators."

Humm. They would say that wouldn't they! The proposal is to provide FWA where NO LICENCED FWA OPERATOR IN IRELAND HAS GONE BEFORE ........FFS .

"Eight responses to Question 2 were received, with four of those supporting the
proposal to allow the use of non-GSM technologies to deliver broadband wireless
services. Two of the respondents opposed to the proposal were concerned about
possible interference between GSM and any other technology introduced into this
band and would like extensive compatibility studies to be carried out if the proposal
were to proceed. Another respondent suggested that only GSM technologies should
be used in the GSM 1800 MHz spectrum allocation"

Surprise Surprise. Mobile operators don't want this but at least one has SMP and can be leveraged into this kind of service provisioning.

"The Commission acknowledges the concerns raised by respondents about the
implications of permitting non-GSM broadband wireless services in the GSM 1800
"

Objection noted sez Comreg. Now lets get on with it.

"However, the
Commission’s proposal is not intended to promote the use of GSM spectrum for
broadband wireless services in preference to mobile, but to utilise spare capacity in
areas where demand for mobile services is relatively low. "

We mean Rural areas Only sez Comreg. Very Rural Areas sez Comreg.

"CEPT ERC Decision ERC/DEC(95)03 which designates the 1710 – 1880 MHz
spectrum for GSM services does so on a non exclusive basis. Unlike in the case of the 900
MHz GSM band there is no corresponding European Commission Directive relating
to the GSM 1800 MHz band.
<snip>
The use of spare capacity within existing mobile networks in areas where
demand for mobile services is relatively low may however enable broadband
services to be extended to areas beyond the reach of dedicated fixed broadband
networks, thus supporting the Commission’s objective to maximise availability of
broadband throughout Ireland."

There is a spare capacity that Comreg can allocate AS IT SEES FIT. the 900Mhz band is subject to EU directives. Comreg has scope to be creative in its usage of frequency around 1800Mhz.

"Q. 3. Are there any particular technologies that you consider would be
suitable for delivery of other broadband wireless services using
GSM spectrum?
Q. 4. Do you agree with the proposal that the provision of non-GSM
broadband wireless services using GSM spectrum should be
delivered only via fixed, external subscriber antennae? If you do
not agree with this proposal please provide supporting
arguments.
Four respondents believed that there is
equipment available to provide broadband wireless services in this band. Examples
quoted included CDMA 1x EV-DO and Portable Wireless DSL (PWDSL) based on
i-BURST as the most suitable technologies to provide portable services in this band.
In contrast, two respondents, both mobile operators, felt that the use of anything
other than GSM standard technologies in GSM spectrum was inappropriate."

The mobile operators whinged it seems, look up the italicised technology yeerslves. PWDSL, sounds cool.

"The Commission has considered the arguments presented for and against the use of
fixed antennas for the provision of broadband services in the GSM 1800 MHz
spectrum. Comreg would welcome views as
to whether such differentiation could be made by for example
prohibiting
• handover between base stations (i.e., in-call hand-over between basestations
will not be permitted.A minimum downstream data rate of 384 kbps, corresponding to the maximum data
rate deliverable by the GSM EDGE standard, is therefore proposed."

These receivers will be locked into one base station and will support 384/64 anyway. They will not roam. Fair IMO

"Q. 5. Do you agree with the proposal to limit the amount of GSM
spectrum that can be used to deliver non-GSM broadband
wireless services to no more than 20% of the operator’s licensed
1800 MHz GSM spectrum?
Q. 6. Do you have any further comments or views on the use of GSM
spectrum for provision of non-mobile services, or on the use of
non-GSM technology in GSM spectrum?"
Three of the respondents were of the
opinion that 20% of the GSM spectrum would be sufficient.."

The mobile operators objected AGAIN

"5.3.3 Commission’s Position
On the basis of the responses received the Commission considers that it is
worthwhile considering further if an appropriate solution can be found that would
encourage the development of broadband services in particular in rural areas."

Comreg said, objection noted but we will carry on anyway. Do I detect a bit of Backbone stiffening in there?

"If this proposal does proceed the Commission would permit up to 20% of a mobile
operator’s GSM 1800 MHz spectrum assignment to be used for the provision of such
broadband services."

Keep providing GSM too!

"The consultation period on the additional question will run from 13th June to 11th
July 2003.

Start Responding to this now. Link on top. Download and read.

M

thecivvie

Originally posted by Muck
Comreg propose a system to give Universal 384/64 access in VERY rural areas, about 25% of the land area of the state. They are having a quick stage 2 consultation on it for teh next 4 weeks. Then a direction which means it could be live this year.

Excellent, thanks for providing the link, O2 are currently doing work on the GSM transmiiter 1/2 a mile from my house

spongebob

Please leave this in here where most people come, it can be moved off to the Market issues folder in 24 hours or so once the word is out (maybe a sticky up top for a week or so) . I know in me heart that ye will give the weekend browsers from the sticks a break on this one

I really feel that Comreg will make this an indispensible part of the overall USO package IF they decide to issue the directive on the use of the GSM spectrum. I will chill on the USO for a while as long as the responses fly in to the stage two consultation.

The kit could be like the Navini IBB kit. It will be portable around a cell area but not usable outside that cell. It will be easy to install (provision) and not require expensive site visits with lots of mileage between installs. It is vastly superior to VSATs as there is no latency problem here.

Here is a bit of info on PWDSL 1Mbit now and up to 4Mbit by next year. Fairly plain english. Arraycom were one of the respondents to the phase one Submissions to the overall consultation (see my initial post).

The stuff is on trial in Australia at the moment, here is a review from our Brudder Board in Oz , Whirlpool , in which a triallist commented on it Favourably . Its literally only switched on a week or two. This is the Deployment website FYI .

1 Mbit speeds at 20:1 contention using 3.5Mhz-5Mhz of Bandwidth. Comreg are proposing to allocate more bandwidth than that . Thats per cell too.

M

echomadman

Very interesting, specially for those of us in de wesht.

Nice to see chorus aren't involved too.
Maybe my dream of living in rural seclusion and having a reasonable interent connection isn't that far off

Dustaz

Highly interesting stuff muck.

Ill sticky this if it flags.

spongebob

This is of interest for a week or two so that submissions can be prepared.

Submissions can come from anyone, a company, a user of BB , a parish council, a wireless co-op , a county council, a parish council.. You may only have one particular axe to grind, thats cool.

Comreg ask a series of questions. It is generally recommended that you answer the questions in series or indicate that you have no view other than Comreg's own view of the matter in a question or that you are satisfied with Comregs approach.

The original consultation document was 03/13 Here

Comreg thought it over since that consultation ended.

They responded with the Response to Consultation [URL=03/63 Here

They will consider the responses to this over July/August and will probably issue a directive to some or all of Vodafone/O2/Meteor in August September.

The rest of the country, the less rural 60-75% (coverage criteria are not absolutely decided) will possibly get a better system than the proposed 'Very Rural Area' one that Comreg are thinking of. Thats because different frequencies with more bandwidth may be used , the terrain is flatter and there are more people per KM2

M

Xian

Originally posted by Muck
Here is a bit of info on PWDSL

flat rate pricing model, thank God (I get wary of these things, what with 3G and hotspot cockamamie)

a projected cost to consumer of $35/month

spongebob

yep sorry

This is a product run off a tower in addition to 3G and 2G

It strikes me that the National coverage envisaged may be related to the 3G rollout requirements.

Vodafone and o2 are the most likely ones to offer this technology, especially Vodafone.

Vodafone will not want to launch it in an area where they have 3G, that would be Sandyford Industrial Estate and a corner of Ballinteer so far . They have a requirement for 3G geographic coverage of about 40-50% by 2007. You may take it that they will comply, just about. They will probably also increase 2G/GPRS to 120k or so by using a technology called
EDGE . This enhancement will be implemented nationwide. EDGE can go to 384k so the figure may not have been plucked out of a hat if you see the linkage!

I suspect that the Rural Wireless will not be deployed where 3G is or will be readily available nor is it fair to make Vodafone do so IMO.

M

zz03

Another €3 per megabyte rip-off for data users? On top of a €50 M+ government handout to the cellular bastards - most of whom can't run a reliable voice network?

Ireland has paid enough to bail out these idiots from 3G license recklessness in neighbouring states. All we have got in return is capital starved, over priced, overloaded networks. And a mobile roaming shambles. Probably the most over-priced, lowest quality mobile phone service in Europe. They have closed down virtually every independent mobile phone shop in the country to minimise choice and competition at the point of sign-up for their overpriced "services".

No thanks. There must be another solution to provide broadband in rural areas beside extending this unhealthy state of affairs to internet access.

zz..

spongebob

The GSM band operators will have to provide this service where they will likely not provide 3G anyway.......

The service will be locked into a cell, and may not roam outside that cell as would a 3G handset. That is the prime concession that Comreg have made .

They will not receive a subsidy for it, it will be a public service obligation that coms from having Significant Market Power. Once they (or Vodafone alone) are a designated SMP operator, they can be obliged to provide services that they would not provide if left to their own devices.

zz03

Originally posted by Muck
The GSM band operators will have to provide this service where they will likely not provide 3G anyway.......

The service will be locked into a cell, and may not roam outside that cell as would a 3G handset. That is the prime concession that Comreg have made .

They will not receive a subsidy for it, it will be a public service obligation that coms from having Significant Market Power. Once they (or Vodafone alone) are a designated SMP operator, they can be obliged to provide services that they would not provide if left to their own devices.

Frankly, I don’t believe these people are capable of connecting the proverbial two cans and a piece of string together in a reliable fashion. Anyone who needs broadband this millennium would be better off moving, if they are currently based outside the USZ!

zz..

Mr_Man

If Comreg forces the mobile operators to provide this service because they have SMP, can it also set the price at which the service is to be provided ? If they can't then its a bit of a dead end.

M.

spongebob

The ability to 'mandate' a 'new' service on an operator includes pricing for that service.

Comreg must also make some provision for the cost of the service. IE the operator gets a quid pro quo elsewhere where they are making money.

These are all part of the USO directive. An operator with Significant Market Power may then be forced to provide 'Universal' type services.

M

irishgeo

This sounds like a great idea. i from the most rural of areas and would love to see this setup for the correct price.

spongebob

Yo Irishgeo

In a very Rural Area (not near a main road between Galway and Cork for example) you should answer Question 3. Your case is that 3G is years away, maybe 6 or 7 to be honest, and that the Airwaves are simply underutilised in your area owing to the low population density.

Comreg are looking at the mobility of such a service in order to DIFFERENTIATE it from 3G or 2G . They do not want to be seen to cannibalise 3G revenues by providing a fully mobile service with handover between cells. They could tolerate a system, for example, that allows a Doctor to go from Patient to Patient in a rural area and to hook up a Telemedicine kit as he goes along. That would require that the Doctor be allowed to move between 3 (known) different cells, for example or 20 cells if they are a Night Time on call doctor. Other rural residents, who could not provide a NOMADIC case would be FIXED to one cell (probably to a sector of the cell as well) with such a service.

The Doctor would have to turn off the system for at least 5 miinutes and the DHCP lease would then die, allowing the Doc to pick up a new IP in the new cell as the Doc moved around.

Therefore the doctor is NOMADIC rather than MOBILE . These issues are important in their own right and that is what Comreg really wants to hear about at this stage.

Docs, Vets , Ambulance Drivers should be allowed to use these systems on a Nomadic basis. Small business persons should have a home and work setting allowing them to bring the CPE home at night, that would locate them to 2 sectors on 2 masts, or maybe 2 masts, max. That would be semi-nomadic I suppose. Others would be fixed.

If the service is 512/256 , for eaample, it could be argued that by the time 3G does get to the arse end of nowhere, it will be a 2Mbit service by then and will thereby differentiate ITSELF over time by technological improvement and evolution within the set of 3G technologies.

The USO will be 4 years long, from the look of things, once it is published in October or November.......what we fight for this year is all that will be GUARANTEED to be available in Rural areas until the end of the Decade. We may do better than 512/256 or 512/128 but it wont be guaranteed .....whereas this directive will Provide at least that.
____________________________________________

The Essentials.

ComReg Doc 03/63 Response to Consultation. (Taken from Pages 14 and 15) Linked in First Post on Top.

"If this proposal does proceed the Commission would permit up to 20% of a mobile
operator’s GSM 1800 MHz spectrum assignment to be used for the provision of such
broadband services."

"If you do not agree with this proposal please provide supporting
arguments. "


Additional Question 1:
What are your views on the provision of non-GSM broadband wireless
services using GSM spectrum on the basis that the following regulatory
requirements would be applied: handover between base stations would
not be permitted; direct provision of voice services would be prohibited;
the minimum downstream data rate (i.e., from the base station) must be
at least 384 kbps (see Appendix Table 1)? How might these restrictions
be enforced?

Additional Question 2:
Do you consider that an alternative range of restrictions should apply?
Please outline these and indicate how they might be enforced?


Additional Question 3
Your views are invited on whether 3G operators should be allowed to
use such technologies within their assigned 3G spectrum for services
over and above those required by their licences.

Send To

Sinead Devey
Commission for Communications Regulation
Abbey Court
Irish Life Centre
Lower Abbey Street
Dublin 1
E-mail: sinead.devey@comreg.ie
Tel: 01 804 9621

SkepticOne

Originally posted by Muck
They will not receive a subsidy for it, it will be a public service obligation that coms from having Significant Market Power. Once they (or Vodafone alone) are a designated SMP operator, they can be obliged to provide services that they would not provide if left to their own devices.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this does not appear to be being proposed in this doc. My reading of it is that it is proposed that broadband usage may be permitted in this band.

From the original consultation doc:

This document seeks views on a proposal to allow mobile network operators to provide other broadband wireless services using part of their licensed radio spectrum, where this is not fully required for mobile services.

And from the response doc:

5.1.3 Commissions Position

[....]

There would be no obligation on existing GSM 1800MHz licensees to offer this service. The provision of this technology would always be secondary to their primary obligations to comply with and offer the currently licensed GSM services.

I think the mobile operators may have been wary of the new allowances, the potential being that they may be made to offer such services in the future. The above will reasure them and would be consistant with ComReg's "hands off" approach.

I suppose it is possible, though, that ComReg, may impose such an obligation some time in the future, but I think for the next few years, they want to make sure that 3G gets rolled out, hence the prohibition on mobile operators providing roaming services on this 1800 band and the restriction to rooftop aerials against the wishes of some of the respondents.

The Commission notes that the majority of responses were not in favour of restricting such services to external fixed antennas only. However, the Commission acknowledges the concerns that a broadband service with full mobility and wide area coverage could be construed as similar to a 3G mobile service, for which competitions have been held in accordance with Commission Information Notice 01/96 on licensing 3G.

So I don't read this as being a concession to the mobile firms.

My own view is that the mobile firms will take the spectrum space and either sit on it or provide services in certain areas at high prices. The worst thing is if they just sit on it, because strategic holding of spectrum works against competition. Potentially a broadband operator may choose not to roll out if they feel they are going to be pounced on later. If spectrum (or a new use of spectrum) has been allocated, it must be used.

My response to this would be: open up this use of the spectrum if:

a) It is not restricted to just mobile firms.
b) A firm commitment to coverage (with timescales) and pricing is given.

spongebob

Originally posted by SkepticOne
And from the response doc:I think the mobile operators may have been wary of the new allowances, the potential being that they may be made to offer such services in the future. The above will reasure them and would be consistant with ComReg's "hands off" approach.

Look at it as an offer they cannot refuse.

I suppose it is possible, though, that ComReg, may impose such an obligation some time in the future, but I think for the next few years, they want to make sure that 3G gets rolled out

Sceptic. This is for areas where there will be no 3G this decade!
The spectrum could be made available for use in Dublin if , <ahem> , the operators played ball elsewhere. Remember that the most onerous 3G rollout is that 3 have to provide 60% coverage by end 2006 or something like that. Vodafone and O2 only have to provide 45% population coverage by 2007 or something like that.

What should Vodafone and o2 do for the other 55% ?

Either expand their 3G coverage or provide coverage of a different kind. They will not be required to overlap these technologies.

My own view is that the mobile firms will take the spectrum space and either sit on it or provide services in certain areas at high prices.

That is not an option, there will be no more scenarios like the 2 auctions in the year 2000 which tied up swathes of valuable spectrum. New spectrum issues will be issued on a use it or lose it basis.

My response to this would be: open up this use of the spectrum if:
a) It is not restricted to just mobile firms.
b) A firm commitment to coverage (with timescales) and pricing is given.

That is the implicit threat. If the Mobile operators do not propose something for the Glencolumkilles Malin Heads and Ballyferriters, Comreg may very well decide to issue the spectrum to those who will. The decision is quite subtle in that sense, the pointer is the use of the phrase non-exclusive when describing the 1710-1870 band. The 900Mhz band is exclusive and may not be used for non GSM services.......which is why I got confused at the 1EV-DO stuff they were on about in the original consultation. In fact I spoke to Dave about it at the time, I found it very radical by Comreg standards.

They were hoping that Vodafone and O2 would bite at that, they didn't do so.....in fact they objected witha Wahhh 900Mhz=GSM attitude. Comreg are still waiting for Vodafone and O2 to propose where (Geographically) they will run services in these bands. If they keep playing hard to get then they may not get what they need for GSM purposes in those bands...even in Dublin.

M

SkepticOne

Originally posted by Muck
That is the implicit threat. If the Mobile operators do not propose something for the Glencolumkilles Malin Heads and Ballyferriters, Comreg may very well decide to issue the spectrum to those who will. The decision is quite subtle in that sense, the pointer is the use of the phrase non-exclusive when describing the 1710-1870 band. The 900Mhz band is exclusive and may not be used for non GSM services.......which is why I got confused at the 1EV-DO stuff they were on about in the original consultation. In fact I spoke to Dave about it at the time, I found it very radical by Comreg standards.

I hope so. I would suggest that responses to this second stage consultation request that explicit obligations be specified, and that the spectrum be transferred should the obligations not be complied with. The penalty should be the removal of the 1800 band. It should be operated on a strict "use it or lose it basis". It does not take a mobile firm to run a non LOS service.

If you read the initial document, the words "may", "allow", "no obligation" occur, the implication being ComReg want to grant mobile firms the facility of competing in the broadband market should they so choose.

I would like to think ComReg have changed their approach, but only recently, they granted Eircom a significant extension on obligations in its FWA 'narrowband' licence to the detriment of people like oscarBravo outside of Ballina. This extension appears to have been at the request of Eircom and no explanation was given except "advances in technology" or some such.

The original consultation was prompted by of the mobile firms. It is always in their interest to hang on to spectrum and not have any restrictions imposed on the use of that spectrum even if they don't have any intention of using it as this allows them to respond to competition should any arise. Their dominant position and network of towers would allow them to quickly wipe out any small operators.

Capt'n Midnight

What equipment is used ??

Would it be possible to use mobile phones ?
ie remove the SIM card and just use the MIEI? number

A lot of them can take data (ok 44Kb is slow) and you would MOST DEFFINETLY NOT provide ANY voice functionality EVER. EVER. EVER at the other end.

24/7 Would be provided for by serial or infra red link and having the thing plugged into the charger all the time.

Should be possible to pick up the HW secondhand (Hong Kong seems to have lots of this stuff) or time share on existing telco's (snowballs chance of good rates - but technically possible) - and there are enough people out there with the appropiate comms experiance to do this ...

BTW why are the telco's upset at the frequencies - I thought they already had their own separat channel allocation in the bands spearated by one or two unused channels.

Now the beauty - no itimesed billing so you save a fortune on overheads - and since each basesatation is fixed you cut down on the handover protocols and frequencies...

spongebob

Originally posted by SkepticOne
If you read the initial document, the words "may", "allow", "no obligation" occur, the implication being ComReg want to grant mobile firms the facility of competing in the broadband market should they so choose.
Their dominant position and network of towers would allow them to quickly wipe out any small operators.

Naturally they should have first refusal. They have the towers and the Backhaul in place in the areas already.

Comreg, or so I hear, will accept 30-35% Geographic coverage across the country. They would allow Vodafone and O2 to divvy it up between them as long as the total coverage is around 35% . They expect Vodafone and O2 to propose solid numbers.

If they refuse they could incur a swingeing investigation on abuse of SMP which would hurt them more than the small opertaors who do not have the towers as you correctly point out.

If they say yes, that will have a direct bearing on the USO negotiations which are underway between Comreg/Eircom/Vodafone at present. Eircom would not be obliged to remove Pairgains in the areas to be wirelessly provisioned by the mobile operators as the lines would not have a USO data obligation any more.....the mobile operators having taken that over. Eircom would not have a getout like that in the other 67% of the country and could incur a much stroonger USO which would force them to make full use of the 3.5Ghz frequency

M

zz03

Originally posted by Muck
The GSM band operators will have to provide this service where they will likely not provide 3G anyway.......

The service will be locked into a cell, and may not roam outside that cell as would a 3G handset. That is the prime concession that Comreg have made .

They will not receive a subsidy for it, it will be a public service obligation that coms from having Significant Market Power. Once they (or Vodafone alone) are a designated SMP operator, they can be obliged to provide services that they would not provide if left to their own devices.

Does [URL= http://www.comreg.ie/whats_new/default.asp?ctype=5&nid=101022 not put an end to any hopes of the above?

zz..

spongebob

ahhh........................

The long awaited USO

thanx zz, it only 3 months late.

Vodafone are not designated as a Universal Carrier but SMP is still on the cards.

Note the pickiness with which Comreg focus on a service at "A Fixed Location" in the document. Not service 'over a Fixed Wire 'if you see my meaning.

2 Consultations between now an 4 July. Must consider the issues carefully.

M

Stonemason

Good to see Comreg taking the initiative for a change more power to em .

The weird bit is im listed as a respondent though I have fired off a few letters to comreg and others I don’t remember filling out a big questionnaire.


PS. Have UTV lowered there idle drop time ? i have had to reconect twice while reading and writing this grrr.

spongebob

This is the first time that Comreg have proposed a rural urban split when regulating a wavelength.

With a bit of encouragement from all in Here they may consider increasing the permissible output, EIRP as it is known , for 802.11b kit which is currently 100Mw in rural areas at least where the density of such devices will always be lower (apart from all the interference from Cow Cams )

They refused flat out to consider such options a few years ago but have moved their stance in this instance, starting really with their consultation on the 5.8Ghz band last year where they decided to allow 2w in conjunction with registration of Base stations.

If you are considering responding to this then you should also look at the MMDS bands consultation that is also underway and where your comments should be in by the end of NEXT week. Indications are that Comreg are considering a Rural/Urban split yet again.

Capt'n Midnight

Comreg are following the EU rules on this one.. Radio Amaturs here have asked to use more and have been refused.

In the US you are allowed more EIRP on point to point and point to multipoint links. Aparently the idea here is that someone far away won't be blocking your signal - all interference will be local. The problem is that most antennas that have a beamwidth of 90 degrees could easily put you over the limit - result losts of local inteference 'cos no one is focusing their signal optimally..

More power is definitely not needed - this just creates noise - just the use of higher gain antennas - this means the beam is more focused and causes less interference to other users.

PS. 2.4GHz could be worse:
In France on many channels you are only allowed 10mW (military use the frequencies)
In Italy you have to register outdoor use.
In Japan you are only allowed use one channel (repeators are tricky)
In the US you have muppets cranking it up blasting through the noise while adding to in - no finesse

Stonemason

I knew i hadnt filled out any massive forms lately as mucks post (not on purpose)kind of implied.

Found this in my trash with the buckets of spam (ill have to get a blocker:D)Automated reply i guess.


Title : Convergence of Mobile and Fixed Technologies: Extending Broadband Access within Licensed GSM Radio Spectrum

Contact : sinead.devey@comreg.ie

Expiry :

Respondents Name :

Respondents Email :

Comments : Id just like to say living in a rural area as i do that i feel wireless net access is the only viable solution that would be both cost effective and quickly delivered.Please dont let the rural population fall foul of the digital dived, Hell dont let Ireland fall foul of the digital dived.