New UK Digital Industries minister should be helpful for Ofcom's DSA plans

In the recent shuffle of UK Government ministers, Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Broadband, not only survived but had its portfolio extended to a broad 'Digital Industries' remit. Ed Vaizey's support for progressive policymaking on Spectrum has been helpful for Ofcom's push to introduce Dynamic Spectrum Access (initially in the TV white spaces). See this TheDrum.com article.

Ed attended the launch of the Centre for White Space Communications, in the University of Strathclyde, back in January 2013. His keynote speech then was very supportive to the concept of harvesting unused spectrum capacity through DSA, to help rural communities enjoy better broadband, for example. Nor was this to be at the expense of existing UHF services - he has been a strong supporter of Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting and its continuing technological journey.

Ofcom has devoted considerable resource to translating the Dynamic Spectrum Access vision into workable regulations for the UK /European UHF contexta and is also looking closely at other opportunities to apply the new spectrum sharing technology. The 3.5 GHz band is one such, with the advantage that it is also under considering, for DSA, in the US - and therefore offers potential harmonisation benefits. With its UK TV white spaces pilot now under way, Ofcom is in the home straight for introducing the regulations to enable the licence-exempt access for which the industry has been waiting.

In his new role, we are confident that Ed will continue to advocate more efficient and flexible spectrum usage as a vital underpinning for the future of the UK's Digital Industries.