Coming to the EU this October: 3G on the 900 MHz band

Let us talk wave lengths for a moment, shall we? Currently in Europe, 3G operates at the 2100 MHz band. A 2100 MHz wavelength measures about 14 cm, while a 900 MHz wavelength measures over twice that, coming in at 33 cm. What does this mean for you as a consumer? Longer wavelengths = fewer investments required for infrastructure since cell towers can be placed at distances farther apart from each other, yet achieve the same amount of coverage. Longer wavelengths = better penetration through buildings and other modern urban obstacles that retard signal strength. Why do you think the auction for the 700 MHz spectrum in America was so important? Building a network at such a low frequency is highly cost effective. Now Europe created something called the “GSM Directive” in 1987 that essentially laid the framework for how mobile infrastructure was going to be set up through out the continent. This was done to prevent the creation of incompatible networks. The 900 MHz frequency was reserved for GSM traffic only, but recently a proposed amendment was approved allowing UMTS (3G) to be used on that chunk of spectrum. The amended GSM Directive takes effect this October. What does this mean to you as a consumer? Better 3G coverage in places today’s spotty areas, and an even larger blanket of coverage over a given territory.