Arqiva has purchased an additional 28 GHz spectrum license as part of its push for more 5G spectrum band ownership in London, the company announced on July 4.
The Region A license for 2x 112MHz was purchased from intelligent managed services provider Luminet. It will be used in Central and Greater London, and provides more access for Arqiva to the 28 GHz spectrum, the standard band for 5G connectivity trials built around Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
“5G connectivity is a highly debated topic, especially with regards to what it will deliver and by when,” said Nicolas Ott, managing director of telecoms and M2M at Arqiva. “However, the FWA component is set for a head start thanks to the drive from major global fixed line and mobile operators as both a substitute and a companion to traditional fiber services. 3GPP certification is critical to achieving global acceptance.”
“5G FWA is an exciting opportunity to deliver true ultrafast broadband above 500 Mbps to millions of households; this is especially relevant in the UK where so few households are connected by fiber to the home (FTTH) or fiber to the cabinet (FTTC),” Ott added.
The next step for Arqiva’s 5G development will come after the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) completes their first 5G standards. The first 5G FWA field trial will be conducted by Arqiva and Samsung this summer in London.
Sasha Williamson, CEO of Luminet, said, “Divesting the spectrum was a strategic business decision for Luminet as we continue to build on our existing 400 sq km London network and enhance our focus on wholesale for our intelligent GB connectivity and computing services.”
Filed Under: Telecommunications (Spectrum)
