The Government\u2019s key objectives in relation to spectrum are ensuring the efficient and effective use, improving mobile coverage and encouraging innovation and investment in new 5G services to meet future demand. In the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, the Government set out how the 3.6 GHz band could facilitate access to spectrum to support 5G services, thus promoting dynamic efficiency and innovation through more flexible approaches to spectrum licensing.<\/p>
<\/p>
We welcome Ofcom\u2019s consultation document on the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz release for 5G services. Whilst Ofcom have provisionally stated that these bands will be auctioned on a national basis, the Government continues to explore spectrum sharing models which would allow community or small provider solutions to meet the needs of local areas.<\/p>
<\/p>
DCMS meets regularly with Ofcom to discuss these issues and consider future use cases for 5G technologies. However as Ofcom is the national regulatory authority, they are responsible for managing spectrum and ensuring that spectrum is used in the most effective way to facilitate such growth.<\/p>
<\/p>
More broadly, the Government believes that there should be greater liquidity in the spectrum market and barriers to spectrum trading should be removed. The Government would like Ofcom to clarify, through amendments to its Spectrum Trading Guidance Notes, that leasing or pooling of spectrum is not prohibited under the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2011 (as amended).<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-19T16:27:46.067Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "5G"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on opening up access to undeployed 5G 3.6GHz radio spectrum for use by independent and community networks.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"} ], "uin" : "219543"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1058966", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1058966/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are committed to ensuring that people enjoy world-class digital connectivity wherever they live, work and travel and that every part of the UK is able to benefit from the advantages that digital connectivity brings. The Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review set out the potential benefits of a dynamic spectrum access model for rural areas that are less likely to be covered by 5G mobile networks.<\/p>
<\/p>
Fast, reliable connectivity can deliver economic, social and well-being benefits for both rural businesses and residents, creating opportunities for businesses to tap into a global customer base and for people to work more efficiently.<\/p>
<\/p>
Government continues to explore this and other spectrum sharing models and therefore welcomes Ofcom\u2019s recent consultation documents on spectrum sharing and their proposals toward flexible licensing practices. Ofcom, as the national regulatory authority, is responsible for managing spectrum and ensuring that radio spectrum is used in the most effective way for all sectors, including those most relevant to rural areas, such as agriculture.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-19T16:25:23.417Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "5G"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential coverage benefits to rural communities of adopting a dynamic spectrum access model for the allocation of 5G radio spectrum.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"} ], "uin" : "219544"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 2, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }