ITU to determine spectrum for IMT2 mobile broadband

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will be identifying additional spectrum requirements for the deployment of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) 2 mobile broadband globally.

ITU has taken this step following the presence of governments representing more than 150 countries attending the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12) in Geneva, which indicates that spectrum plays a major role in bringing mobile broadband to citizens globally.

The ITU will also soon launch an intensive multi-year work programme to study options for additional IMT spectrum that will be presented and discussed at WRC-15.

''By taking action now to secure more spectrum, mobile operators will be better positioned to meet the mobile data needs of billions of consumers well into the future. We look forward to working with governments and regulators over the next three years to identify the spectrum needed to deliver the vision of providing low cost, ubiquitous broadband all over the world,'' said Anne Bouverot, director general, GSMA.

''India is already the third largest internet market in the world with more than 100 million users, and has the second largest Facebook user base worldwide with 44 million subscribers. Given the continuing increase in demand for data, we need more spectrum to meet the needs of our customers now and in the future,'' said Sanjay Kapoor, CEO, Bharti Airtel, India & South Asia.

Data growth by 2010 had exceeded earlier ITU forecasts by over five times. Today there are more than 1.7 billion IMT connections around the world, and by 2015 this number will more than double to over 3.6 billion as mobile technology grows exponentially.