Wireless broadband set to rise from ITV Digital ashes

Parts of the radio spectrum used to transmit digital terrestrial television could be used for wireless broadband following the collapse of ITV Digital.

A spokesman for the Independent Television Commission (ITC),the body which governs the sale of licences, said a change of function from digital television to broadband internet access was a possibility.

But it could mean that players in the wireless market will probably have to provide television services in conjunction with a broadcaster, such as Sky or the BBC.

"It is up to people to make business propositions," said the spokesman. "We are not ruling anything out. It is really up to an applicant to apply."

Currently each multiplex can carry 24.1Mbps of data. The network covers over 70 per cent of the country.

Wireless broadband could occupy up to half that space with the rest used for transmitting digital television. There are 80 sites from which broadband could be carried.

The spokesman said that ITC was advertising new, more flexible licences since the demise of the Carlton-Granada owned broadcaster and it was up to applicants to come up with business models which can include pay TV and free-to-air plus data services.

Originally 90 per cent of the content that made up the multiplex had to be television channels, but it was prepared to consider a far lower percentage.

But experts dismissed the idea as economically unfeasible.

"I don't think anyone in their right minds would roll out wireless broadband services over those multiplexes full stop," said James McCall, sales director of wireless broadband provider Tele2. "You still need the demand for the service and quite frankly that isn't there."