Friday fragments - comms news from around the web for 18 April 2014

A round-up of the week's critical communications and public safety radio news for Friday, 18 April 2014 (published on 17 April due to the Easter break).

Brazil ponders 700 MHz. Anatel, the Brazilian telecommunications regulator, has scheduled public meetings to hear input on the scheduled August auction of 700 MHz licences. The auction will involve blocks of 2 x 10 MHz, and the winning bidders will have to agree to fix any spectrum interference issues and the expenses for reallocating TV channels and relay systems.

Delay in final NZ 700 MHz sale. Despite auctioning the final 700 MHz block to Telecom, the New Zealand Commerce Commission has not yet given the green light for the sale to be finalised. Telecom paid NZ$83m in the secondary auction, which concluded in January.

UK business says voice comms is still important. A survey conducted last year reveals that 70% of employees and IT professionals in the UK say voice is the "most critical form of communication".

Children's channel to use TETRA. The Al Jazeera Children's Channel has signed a deal with Qatar-based Consolidated Gulf Company for the provision of TETRA communications equipment.

Global amateur radio conference in August. The next Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (GAREC) Conference will be held in Hunstville, Alabama, on 14-15 August. The conference will focus on "the application of advanced technologies available in emergency communications".

Noosa mulls beach emergency beacon. The Noosa Surf Life Saving Club is heading a push to install an emergency beacon on Noosa's north shore that the public can use to raise the alarm in times of emergency on the beach, which is becoming increasingly popular with swimmers.

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