Netherlands clears 800MHz band for mobile services

The Dutch radio frequencies regulator Agentschap Telecom has cleared the 800MHz band for mobile communications use. The National Frequencies Plan, which dates from 2005, was changed to allow for base station transmissions in the 791–821 MHz band and mobile terminal use in the 832–862 MHz band. The broadcasters currently using the band will be gradually migrated to other frequencies under the current DVB-T plan to 2013. A 1 MHz buffer band was created to prevent interference between broadcasting and communication networks. This is available for low-power audio connections. A duplex gap of 11MHz is also available between the frequencies for base stations and mobile terminals; this is also available for low-power audio. The regulator also set aside spectrum for licence-free, low-power applications, in the 614-622 MHz range. The same applications are served by the expansion of the so-called Dect guard band. The 1877,5–1880 MHz band which is available until 25 February 2013 for low-power mobile communications will be expanded from the same date to the 1875–1880 MHz band. The associated uplink band will also be expanded, from 1782,5–1785 MHz to 1780–1785 MHz.