Spanish government regulates mobile use

The GSMA, the body that represents the worldwide mobile communications industry, says that Spain's industry ministry has announced that he will issue a decree to regulate the 790 to 862 MHz band that will be freed up after Spain phases out analog television.

The ministry says the spectrum will be available for uses other than analog television as of January 2015 and it is likely be reserved for mobile use, especially for mobile internet broadband.

The GSMA now wants other governments in Europe and across the world to act equally decisively and allocate this spectrum band to mobile broadband services. A harmonised approach will stimulate competition in the mobile market, encourage economic growth and deliver consumers new services at lower cost.

The Spanish government’s decision reflects a growing momentum in Europe towards the establishment of a common harmonised frequency band for mobile broadband services. The GSMA has been working closely with governments and regulators in the region as well as other parts of the world to demonstrate the huge and measureable benefits of the digital dividend.