EC Wants to Clear 700-MHz Spectrum for Mobille Broadband by 2020

The European Commission wants to clear the 700-MHz band (694-790 MHz), presently allocated for over the air TV broadcasting,  by 2020.

Frequencies in the sub-700 MHz area (470-694 MHz) will remain available, as a priority, for audiovisual services.

The move was not unexpected, after the International Telecommunications Union World Radiocommunications Conference meeting, where the 700 MHz band was allocated for mobile broadband services in ITU Region 1, which includes Europe, Africa, the Middle east and Central Asia.

The Commission proposes that the 700 MHz band should be assigned to wireless broadband by 30 June 2020 at the latest in all EU countries.