The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK), the UK’s leading Internet trade association - is calling on Ofcom to consider the needs of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in its Spectrum Framework Review, due to report back in July 2005.

The growth in wireless broadband means that many ISPs often use the radio spectrum to provide Internet access. ISPA believes that Ofcom should establish a dedicated range of radio frequencies for ISPs to offer broadband services.

Jessica Hendrie-Liaño, Chair of ISPA Council said, It’s a case of too many cooks at present. If ISPs were reserved specific frequencies for broadband and Internet access, problems of interference would be minimised. The current narrow spectrum is also used by the military and mobile phones. All parties would benefit from a dedicated spectrum of frequencies for ISPs.

In areas where the local loop hasn't been unbundled and particularly in rural areas, wireless access to the Internet will be of great importance for users. ISPA member BT estimates that 99.6 per cent of UK homes and businesses will be capable of being connected to a broadband enabled exchange by June 2005. However this does not accurately reflect the geographical availability of broadband across the UK. With a dedicated range of radio frequencies for ISPs, the geographical areas not served by fixed line broadband can be assured better quality wireless high speed Internet service.