One of the outcomes of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), which concluded last week in Geneva, Switzerland, was increased spectrum for mobile communications services. According to news agency AFP, the consensus was that the revised radio frequency spectrum will speed up mobile services.

The AFP reported that the increased spectrum will allow easier and cheaper global broadband expansion and will enable more than one billion mobile telephone users to migrate from 3G to broadband 4G technology, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This report was posted on the Yahoo! News web site.

While a global group representing mobile phone operator, as well as the United States, welcomed the new arrangements, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was not happy and expressed some concerns about the new plan, as per the AFP report.

“But the EBU, representing 85 public broadcasters in 56 countries, warned that its own new approach to spectrum management was at risk from the decision,” wrote AFP.

EBU communications manager Michelle Roverelli told AFP, “We think this could cause considerable disruption and loss of services for millions of viewers.”

She added, “This week the European Parliament approved a five-year radio spectrum policy program.”

According to EBU, the pressure from African and Arab regional administrations forced delegates to allocate the 700 MHz band (694-790 MHz) to mobile services, wrote AFP. “This decision could cause considerable problems in Europe, where the 700 MHz band is heavily used for terrestrial broadcasting with, in many cases, long-term licensing arrangements in place,” Roverelli told AFP.

ITU representatives think otherwise. AFP quoted a comment from ITU general secretary Hamadoun Toure, as saying, “WRC-12 has helped to define new and better ways to regulate radio services and applications. It represents a major contribution in making the world a better place for all.”

Likewise, WRC-12 chairman Tariq al-Awadhi described the negotiations as “sometimes difficult.” However, he added, “We have arrived at consensus that will shape the way we communicate in the future,” wrote AFP.

At the conclusion, ITU officials said that the new broadband spectrum could come on stream in 2015 after approval at WRC-15, as per the AFP report.