Ofcom plans to satisfy wireless demand

Ofcom has revealed that demand for on the wireless spectrum will double during the Olympics in London this year with a requirement of 20,000 wireless frequency assignments - double the amount granted for the city over the past year.

Ofcom says it has been working on a plan since 2006 to ensure the demand is met and has employed various measures to including borrowing spectrum from the Ministry of Defence and using some of the space freed up from the analogue TV switch-off.

The details for the Spectrum Olympics Plan will be finalised next month and Ofcom has said that it has already approved over 12,000 applications.

The expected Olympics media frenzy will see requests for wireless spectrum come from many sources including wireless TV cameras, microphones and communication systems for security personnel, emergency services as well as broadcasters.

Location, scoring and timing systems will also need wireless allocations as well as the commentaries offered to spectators.

Ofcom has stated that they will be using a ‘state of the art’ system to ensure there is no interference between the thousands of users on the wireless spectrum during the event; with 90 engineers to be on hand should any problems occur.

The final plans will be finalised very soon, with Ofcom providing further details when everything has been set.