Alot of people may not realize how much pressure Tele2 may be under to roll out wireless . Tele2 is expectd to have 60% coverage in the UK by 2003 and this can be verified at the URL below.
parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk
Select Committee on Trade and Industry Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence
APPENDIX 42 Memorandum submitted by Tele2 (UK) Ltd 1. TELE2 (UK) LIMITED BACKGROUND Tele2 (UK) Ltd is a licensed PTO providing high bandwidth fixed wireless access services using allocated radio spectrum in the 3.6-4.2 GHz range. The Company is a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular SA, who have a successful track record in the UK, having previously been a founding shareholder of Vodafone and Microtel (Orange). Tele2 (UK)'s commercial service commenced in December 1998 in the Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham districts (an area of around 40 km 20 km). We are now concentrating on the roll-out of our nation-wide network to provide coverage to 60 per cent of the UK population by 2003, which also meets the coverage obligations of our licence.
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radio.gov.uk
9. Recently the Independent Television Commission (ITC) has started awarding Local Delivery Operator (LDO) licences under the Broadcasting Act 1990. These allow competing networks to be developed using a combination of cable and fixed radio networks. Spectrum for delivery of wideband entertainment services has been set aside at 40 GHz and the Radiocommunications Agency is currently working with equipment manufacturers and service providers to examine options for a return channel. In addition, the Government has been keen to see the development of innovative fixed radio services nationally.The licensing of Ionica and Liberty has reflected this policy. Both have been allocated spectrum in return for accepting obligations to roll out their networks to provide a high level of coverage of the UK population within a period defined in their licences.
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radio.gov.uk
2.8.2 Use and Licensing of Spectrum
At the moment there are 8 licensees who have fixed wireless access licences. They are BT, Radiotel, Atlantic Telecom, Scottish Telecom,Tele2 (formerly Liberty), Cable & Wireless, and NTL.Another company, Ionica, had its licence revoked due to its going into receivership. These operators provide services ranging from digital telephony to large scale data services both to the residential and business sectors.
The licences for the 2 and 10 GHz bands were awarded by public competition, following consultation. The 2.4, 3.4, and 3.6-4.2 GHz licences were awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. The licence fee depends on the frequency band and the number of base stations installed.
At present, the licence fees probably do not cover the RA's costs as the number of base stations is still relatively small. The largest number of base stations belonged to Ionica.
Table 2-12 gives a summary of the frequency bands for fixed wireless access links. The table also shows the number of operators that use the bands, the services they provide, the constraints, the area covered, and the cost of the licence.
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radio.gov.uk
Innovative radio services planned for 4 GHz frequency band
Press Release - 28 April 2000
The Radiocommunications Agency (RA) announced today that it is to licence Tele2 (UK) Ltd to provide Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services in the 4GHz frequency band. Tele2 (UK) Ltd will launch its service in the Leicester area and plans to introduce similar services in the Nottingham, Bradford and Leeds areas in the next few months.
The decision follows trials of these services in the Thames Valley area. FWA systems provide a radio-based alternative to fixed 'local loop' line networks, providing fast internet access with higher data rates than are available over conventional telephone lines. The services and competition that FWA will add to the existing fixed telecommunications network will further the development of e-commerce in the UK and lead to greater choice and lower costs for consumers.
The 4GHz frequency band is currently used by terrestrial point-to-point microwave fixed links (Fixed Services) and satellite earth stations for the Fixed Satellite Service. This frequency band was until recently managed by British Telecom but has now been returned to RA under an agreed programme to transfer management of all fixed link spectrum to RA.
Under RA management, there will be wider access to the fixed link spectrum, outside existing trunk routes. The number and density of point-to-point fixed links and point-to-multipoint services is expected to increase significantly. The licensing of Tele 2 (UK) Ltd., the growth in point-to-point fixed links and satellite earth stations will herald a new environment in which the nature and technical characteristics of the 4 GHz frequency band will change and present new challenges for the successful co-existence of all services in this band.
New services will gain access to this band through frequency co-ordination of their services with the existing licensed services. RA will manage this process and act as an arbitrator to facilitate mutual agreement.
RA is aware that prior to the introduction of the new services, the 4GHz frequency band has also been used by receive-only satellite earth stations which became exempt from licensing in 1989 under UK legislation (SI 1989 No 123). Existing receive-only earth station operators who wish to be taken into account in the planning of point-to-point link and FWA services are advised to contact the Agency before 1st July 2000.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 0500
Out of Hours: 020 7215 5600/5110
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 0211
Textphone (for people with hearing impairments): 020 7215 6740
E-mail: library@ra.gsi.gov.uk
RA website: www.radio.gov.uk
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decima.ca
Wi-LAN opens new UK office to support growth
Calgary-based Wi-LAN Inc has opened a European office in Reading UK to support and grow the company's Hopper Plus and I.WiLL businesses. Sales in Europe have doubled, spurred by recent contracts with none other than Tele2 UK. Wi-LAN has become Tele2's preferred supplier of I.WiLL access points which are based on the company's proprietary W-OFDM technology. Under terms of the contract, Wi-LAN will supply Tele2 with a forecasted 7,000 units through to December 2001. The contract is subsequently renewable at the end of each following year. The demand for broadband wireless in Europe is growing significantly as a result of its ease of implementation and quick time to market.
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The following are news releases no longer on the Wi-Lan site , fortunately I saved them to a Hard Drive. (These are only excerpts but I have the complete stories if anyone wants them)
E:\wi-lan info\press_release.phtml.htm
In June, Wi-LAN announced a contract signed with Tele2 U.K. Ltd. to supply a Wireless Local Loop system for a nation-wide wireless data network in the United Kingdom. Tele2 U.K., a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular S.A., a leading developer and operator of cellular telephone services worldwide, will use the network to offer high-speed Internet access and intranet services to small and medium sized businesses and small office/home office workers, initially in England's Thames Valley region. The wireless network provides faster and cheaper connections than ISDN, at up to 2 Megabits per second (Mbps).National roll out of the Tele2 U.K. service is planned for 1999, and will reach 60 per cent of the U.K. population by 2003.The value to Wi-LAN for the initial phase of the contract is $1.6 million in revenue in 1998 through product deliveries and development fees. National roll out of the second phase of the service is planned for 1999. Wi-LAN expects to provide Wireless Local Loop equipment requirements as part of the second phase, and based on the terms and conditions of the contract,the value of the second phase to Wi-LAN is expected to range from $75 to $150 million.
Wi-LAN Signs Joint Venture with Tele2 U.K. to Develop National Public Wireless Data Network Canadian Wireless communications innovator moves into licensed spectrum market with plan to provide high-speed wireless Internet and intranet services throughout the United Kingdom Calgary, Alberta, Canada (June 17, 1998) — Wi-LAN Inc. (ASE:WIN), a leading provider of wireless data communications products and solutions, has signed a contract with Tele2 U.K. Ltd. to supply a Wireless Local Loop system for a nation-wide wireless data network in the United Kingdom. This release includes the name of the European partner following the project announcement. Tele2 U.K., a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular S.A., a leading developer and operator of cellular telephone services worldwide, will use the network to offer high-speed Internet access and intranet services to small and medium sized businesses and small office/home office workers, initially in England's Thames Valley region. The wireless network provides faster and cheaper connections than ISDN, at up to 2 Megabits per second (Mbps). This equates to over 15 times the speed of current wire-based ISDN systems — or the equivalent capacity to transmit Tolstoy's War and Peace in 15 seconds. National roll out of the Tele2 U.K. service is planned for 1999, and will reach 60 per cent of the U.K. population by 2003. Higher power and longer range than conventional systems Instead of traditional landlines, the system uses a series of base stations, antennas and Wi-LAN's wireless radio technology to transmit data using Internet protocols. The project was spurred with the award to Tele2 U.K. of licensed radio spectrum in the 3.6 to 4.2 GHz band, with a mandate to extend broadband telecommunications services to a broader range of the U.K. population. A licensed band means radio frequencies can be transmitted at a higher power and longer range than in conventional licence-exempt bands, with little risk of interference.
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