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Securing the airwaves for London 2012
Ofcom sets outs plans for how the airwaves will be managed during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Thousands of wireless applications will be needed during the seven week event, presenting a unique logistical challenge, never faced before by the UK. From walkie-talkies used by event organisers to TV cameras broadcasting to a global audience of five billion viewers, the demand on radio spectrum - a scarce resource - will be unprecedented.
In accordance with the Government's guarantees to the International Olympic Committee, the Spectrum Plan outlines how spectrum will be made available to organisers and users from around 150 countries, while minimising the impact on day-to-day users.
Where the spectrum will be found Ofcom will source the required spectrum in four main ways:
- By borrowing spectrum on a short-term basis from public sector bodies,
- such as the Ministry of Defence
- Encouraging more efficient use of civil spectrum
- Making use of spectrum freed up by the digital switchover
- Using licence exempt spectrum
Ofcom consulted on a draft plan earlier this year. This consultation, coupled with knowledge gained from past Olympics and other large events, indicates that the plan will meet the needs of the London 2012 Games.
Jill Ainscough, Ofcom's Chief Operating Officer, said, "Consumers and businesses are using wireless technologies more than ever. In the UK, spectrum-related businesses account for one thirtieth of GDP and spectrum use is growing fast. For the London 2012 Games, this means that the demand for spectrum is likely to be at an all time high. Add to this the fact that spectrum is already heavily used in London and you begin to appreciate that managing the airwaves is a complex task. This plan provides an important blueprint for how this will be achieved."
The full statement can be found here.
