‘Unprecedented’ spectrum needs for 2012 games

gallery

Demand for spectrum during the 2012 Olympic Games will be “unprecedented”, according to a report.

Ofcom, responsible for the distribution and management of the spectrum at the games, has published its “Draft Spectrum Plan” today.

The report listed a large amount of uses including broadcasting services for 20,000 journalists to five billion viewers, wireless microphones for the opening and closing ceremonies, and wireless cameras.

Ofcom has listed three areas where it can source the spectrum from, saying that the civil spectrum could be used “as efficiently as possible,” as well as licence-exempt spectrum, and spectrum could be borrowed temporarily from the public sector.

Although the plan’s primary focus is London, it also accounts for events happening across the country such as sailing and football venues.

Arguments have been flaring around the use of spectrum recently due to the Digital Britain project wanting to take spectrum from Vodafone and O2 to provide broadband for rural areas.

Consultation for the plan will close at the beginning of August but it will continue to be refined as the games approach.

Email to a friend

Print this page