United Kingdom

[GB] Regulator Consults on Plans for Managing Spectrum during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

IRIS 2009-7:1/38

Tony Prosser

University of Bristol Law School

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, is consulting on plans for managing spectrum during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London and other parts of the UK. It envisages unprecedented demand for spectrum for uses including private mobile radios, so that the London Organising Committee and others can keep in contact at the London Olympic Park and the 35 other Games venues. Supporting broadcasting services will also need to be provided for 20,000 members of the media broadcasting to a global audience of around five billion. These will include wireless microphones used by the Committee and broadcasters for the competitions and interviews; in-ear monitors used by broadcasters and participants to listen to instructions, especially during the opening and closing ceremonies and wireless cameras for broadcasting pictures from inside and outside the venues, including airborne coverage.

Ofcom’s draft plan identifies potential sources which could be used to provide a supply of spectrum, whilst minimising the impact on current use and demand. Three separate sources are identified: civil spectrum used as efficiently as possible; temporarily borrowing spectrum on a short-term basis from public sector bodies such as the Ministry of Defence; and licence-exempt spectrum. Using these sources, Ofcom considers that it is able to authorise a sufficient amount of spectrum without having a major impact on current users and that it will not be necessary to revoke or vary existing licences.

A statement on the plan will be published by the end of 2009 and it will be subject to refinement in the run-up to the Games themselves.