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Ofcom's road to Freeview HD gets explained
We'll warn you -- if you venture down to the full story on this one, you'll be wading knee-deep in some fairly technical hoopla. That said, those interested in exactly how Ofcom plans to get Freeview HD up and rolling when the 2012 digital switchover occurs in the UK will certainly find it of interest. As the story goes, the first three Freeview HD channels (BBC, ITV and Channel 4) are expected to go live in late 2009 when the Winter Hill transmitter is switched to digital-only. There are a grand total of six multiplexes to work with, and Ofcom has it planned to shuffle things around and use the now-empty PSB3 for high-def content. Sadly, the story ends with you needing a new set-top-box to digest the new signals, but hey, at least you can keep the same antenna. More technobabble awaits you in the read link.
Ofcom looks to promote pay-TV competition
We've known that a few good souls over in the UK have been fighting for more high-def for some time now, but a new report from across the pond asserts that Ofcom -- the independent regulator and competition authority for the communication industries in the United Kingdom -- has placed the "release of spectrum through the digital dividend at the top of its priorities, and promoting competition in pay-TV." It's also nearing a decision on whether it will forge ahead with proposals to force Sky to "offer some of its premium channels as part of a wholesale offer in spring 2009." In all honesty, it's tough to digest what exactly all this legalese means for the average UK content viewer, but so long as someone up top is pushing for more competition, we guess it can only result in a net positive.
Freeview HD coming sooner than anticipated?
Freeview HD could be coming to London and other locales sooner than expected, thanks to the Beeb. It's trying to work out a deal with Ofcom to use alternate frequencies make sure OTA HD is available in all areas until analog TV shuts off for good. So, good news for the fam in Ulster, Tyne Tees, Anglia and more, potentially waiting until 2012 is not a favourable option.
HD versions of ITV, Channel 4 and BBC coming to Freeview HD in 2009
Let us speak for all of the UK when we inhale a deep breath of fresh air and say: "Finally!" After hearing earlier this year that plans were in place for Freeview to take the HD plunge in the UK, Ofcom has just made it official. Beginning next year, ITV, Channel 4 and BBC will launch high-def channels on the platform, with an expected go-live date of "late autumn" 2009. It was also confirmed that a fourth HD channel was expected to launch by 2010. As for coverage areas, it's slated to be available in the Granada region next year, followed by Wales, Scotland and the West Country in 2010; Central, Yorkshire, Anglia and Meridian in 2011; and London, Tyne Tees and Ulster by 2012. Oh, and we hate to burst your bubble somewhat, but an all-new set-top-box will be required to juggle both the MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 standards -- bugger![Thanks, Ruaidhri]
O2 meets 3G obligation in UK, averts spanking
Clearly terrified at the process of losing four solid months of its 3G license's duration (which still runs for another 13 years, by the way), the UK's Office of Communications has now confirmed that O2 has stood up, acted like a carrier for once in its life, and taken responsibility for its wrongdoing. Obligations tied to the sale of the UK's 3G licenses back in 2000 stipulated that all buyers must reach 80 percent population coverage by December 31, 2007; Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, and 3 all managed to do that, but O2 was caught with its pants down at 75.69 percent. Ofcom showed leniency and extended O2's deadline out to June of this year, which was just enough for the carrier to get its act together and bring its coverage over the minimum. Meanwhile, US 3G coverage is an embarrassing shadow of the impressive numbers that even the slacker carriers there have managed to put up, so don't feel too bad for yourself, O2, we still love ya.[Via Coolsmartphone]
European Commission gives approval to in-flight calling over Europe
Not even a week after hearing that Air France was forging ahead with an in-flight calling trial, the European Commission has now voiced its approval of using mobiles on planes in European airspace. After six months of deliberating, the decision was finally made to give airlines the choice of offering up services in order for guests to dial loved ones at 3,000-meters or more. The EU telecoms commissioner, Viviane Reding, went on to warn operators to "keep the cost of calls made on planes at a reasonable level," and of course, not all is clear just yet. For starters, the European Aviation Safety Agency still needs to green-light the whole ordeal by approving any hardware that would be used, and we won't be seeing any 3G action up high just yet. Still, at least one less hurdle stands in the way of you phoning home from over Europe (and simultaneously making enemies out of all your neighbors trying to get a few decent minutes of shuteye).
O2 threatened with hilarious penalty for poor 3G coverage
So the UK's Ofcom (that's Office of Communications, for those not in the know), in awarding its coveted 3G licenses, required that those five licensees all cover at least 80 percent of its population by December 31, 2007. Four of those five companies -- Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, and 3 -- were able to meet that deadline; meanwhile, O2 has been holding down last place with a measly 75.69 percent blanketed with its high speed data, which leaves the Telefonica subsidiary about 2.5 million Britons short of its obligation. So when a government body is dealing with a huge, multinational corporation that's failing to hold up its end of the bargain, you'd think that there'd be some massive fine levied, right? Not exactly. First of all, Ofcom's extending O2's deadline out to the end of June, and if they're still not at 80 percent, the penalty will be to reduce the term of O2's 3G license by a mere four months. Oh, and the license doesn't even expire until 2021. Way to put your foot down, Ofcom.
UK's Ofcom follows FCC, agrees to sell off public radio spectrum
UK regulator Ofcom has already given some indication that it intended to follow the FCC and sell off some public radio spectrum of its own, and it now looks like its really about to get the ball rolling, with it giving the official go-ahead for some key spectrum to be sold off through a "market mechanism." As The Independent reports, that spectrum could wind up netting as much as £20 billion (or just under $40 billion) when all is said and done, with the Ministry of Defence (which holds about 75% of it) likely to be the biggest beneficiary. It'll likely still be a while before all those pounds start changing hands, however, with Ofcom still undecided about new regulations for the spectrum and the exact mechanism for selling off the spectrum not yet in place.
Ofcom approves UWB for use in the UK
Though it did take a bit longer than the six months Ofcom's chief technologist, Professor William Webb was hoping for, ultra-wideband has finally been given the green light in the UK. New legislation will mean that "UK users will not need a license to use UWB devices when they hit shelves in the future," and Ofcom's Chief Executive Ed Richards was quoted as saying that "where possible, we want to remove restrictions on the use of spectrum to allow the market to develop new and innovative services, such as UWB, for the benefit of consumers." So there you have it (UK-based) folks, just a few more days (August 13th, to be precise) before UWB usage is fair game on your side of the pond.[Via The Register]
UK regulator Ofcom considering phasing out analog radio
We keep hearing about this "new media" thing that's supposed to bring the imminent death of traditional print and broadcast media. Only problem is that those pesky old-school journalists still keep turning out printed pages and keep making radio and TV shows that are actually aired, over, you know, the analog airwaves. Well, the UK may be the first country to shut down traditional analog broadcasts in favor of digital radio (and probably those podcast things we've heard about). Red Herring is reporting that Ofcom, the UK's equivalent of the FCC, recently published a statement that automatic renewal of AM and FM licenses could "tie up very valuable slices of spectrum for 24 years" and that the spectrum should instead be used for mobile television and "more digital radio and data services." However, while traditional radio is unlikely to get shut down overnight, Ofcom apparently believes that it will get phased out pretty soon. We're guessing that by the time that happens, DAB radios will probably drop under the $100 mark, allowing us to finally enjoy the Beeb in full digital glory and on the cheap.
UK set to de-criminalize FM transmitters
Even though most FM transmitters barely have enough signal strength to reach the head unit of your car, a post-World War II-era English law that's still on the books has made these devices illegal for Brits to own and operate, as they could possibly interfere with other, legal broadcasts in some sort of Bizarro world. Well now it looks like the UK's Office of Communications, or Ofcom, has finally wised up and is poised to give the transmitters an exemption from 1949's Wireless Telegraphy Act (geez, even its name is antiquated), which currently threatens scofflaw music lovers with up to two years in prison. Ofcom is holding a "public consultation" on the matter until September, so if you're British and sick of being unable to share your Spice Girls and Gnarls Barkley tracks with pedestrians and other motorists, speak up and let your voice be heard.
