Qualcomm wins a slice of UK spectrum

Qualcomm has got its hands on the 40MHz L-Band radio spectrum recently auctioned by Ofcom.

The technology-neutral space between 1452MHz and 1492MHz cost the US wireless firm £8.33m and covers the entire UK.

Qualcomm plans to use the spectrum in collaboration with partners to bring a variety of wireless technologies to the UK.

"Winning this licence creates an opportunity for Qualcomm to explore emerging business models and advanced mobile technologies," said John Caterer, UK managing director of Qualcomm Europe.

"If we can help the market to harness this potential, we will see additional opportunities for service providers using a variety of technologies."

The company is expected to use the space to help develop technologies such as in-building coverage and multimedia broadcasting, including its MediaFLO system.

"Acquiring this spectrum will enable us to explore innovative wireless services and technologies that will benefit European consumers and the wireless industry as a whole," said Andrew Gilbert, president of Qualcomm Europe.

However, analyst firm Ovum believes that, while the L-band spectrum granted to Qualcomm can be used for a range of services, it is not the optimum frequency band for the MediaFLO mobile TV solution.

Mobile broadcasting is best suited to the higher frequency UHF band, according to Ovum, which is only expected to be available after the digital switchover in 2012.

"The UHF band is also the preferred spectrum for the rival mobile broadcast TV standard based on DVB-H," said the analyst firm.

"This is backed by Nokia and endorsed by the European Commission, and has been adopted by a growing number of European operators."

Qualcomm's MediaFLO has been adopted in the US by AT&T and Verizon but has yet to gain backing in Europe.

Although not ideal, adapting MediaFLO for the newly acquired L band may the best shot the company has at showing off what its technology can do and winning support on the continent.