Mobile giants call for radio spectrum slice for broadband plans

European mobile network companies have called for a slice of the radio spectrum in order play their part in universal broadband initiatives.

Industry body the GSM Association has made a claim for a quarter of the spectrum, which will soon be freed up in the digital television switchover, during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Michael O'Hara, GSMA's chief marketing officer, told the Guardian: "The mobile phone industry is calling for 25 per cent of the digital dividend spectrum to be made available for the mobile industry."

"It must be harmonised across Europe so we all have the same bit. If that spectrum is made available, this industry is ready to invest in new services to reach rural populations."

Communications minister Lord Carter recently met the five largest UK mobile operators in an attempt to broker a deal over the spectrum.

The minister hopes to persuade Vodafone and O2 to release a portion of the band they received in the 1980s to Orange, T-Mobile and 3 in order for them to use this to provide broadband.

Vodafone recently tested a new HSPA-evolved broadband service offering speeds up to 42 Mbps over its Spanish network using MIMO and 64 QAM techniques.