Tell Them What You Think ^beta

1.1 Vodafone (UK) Limited has submitted a request to Ofcom to vary its Wireless Telegraphy Third Generation Mobile Licence (3G) to increase the permitted power limits. The request has been discussed with other 3G licensed operators, all of whom have indicated that they would support the proposal and would like to benefit from the same condition being applied across the licence class. We are therefore consulting on the variation of all five existing 3G licences, rather than on the variation of Vodafone's licence alone.

1.2 In our July 2009 ^(-1-) Statement on authorisation of terrestrial mobile networks as a complement to mobile satellite systems operating in the frequency bands 1980 2010 MHz and 2170 2200 MHz (referred to as complementary ground component, CGC or, in this case, '2 GHz MSS/CGC'), we noted that any change to the permitted power limits for 3G base stations would also be relevant for 2 GHz MSS/CGC base stations. We are therefore also considering applying the higher power limit to CGC base station licences.

1.3 In assessing the proposal, Ofcom has taken into consideration likely developments in 3G engineering and is consequently suggesting that an increase to 68dBm EIRP, rather than the requested 65dBm would be appropriate (as compared with the current limit of 62dBm) in order to remove the potential need for further consultation in the near future.

1.4 This document assesses the request and in doing so:

• provides background information on the 3G and the 2 GHz MSS/CGC licences;
  
• sets out Ofcom's statutory and policy framework;
  
• considers the engineering effects of increased power levels, including the potential for interference to other users; and
  
• considers the request in light of Ofcom's statutory and other legal duties.

1.5 The main points of our pre-consultation assessment are that:

• increasing the power limits should not change the practical usability of adjacent spectrum to any significant extent due to increased interference (e.g. to PMSE wireless cameras); and
• it would be appropriate to offer the variation, if granted, to all five 3G licensees and to incorporate the higher power limit in future 2 GHz MSS/CGC base station licensees.

1.6 The request did not ask for changes to the out-of-band or spurious emissions limits for 3G bases stations and we are specifically not consulting on allowing higher limits for these. If the variation is allowed, we suggest that these limits are capped at their current levels.

1.7 Ofcom wishes to make clear that we have not reached a decision on these matters and is seeking stakeholders' views on the request and on our pre-consultation assessment. We will carefully consider any arguments and comments made in response to this consultation before reaching a final decision.

1.8 We are asking stakeholders to consider the following questions when responding to this consultation:

This consultation started on 5th February 2010 and ended on 19th March 2010.

Here are the documents we were able to locate that relate to this consultation: