Sure's 5G trial in Douglas re: frequencies, spectrum and equipment

Summary

A request was made for technical details regarding Sure's 5G trial in Douglas, including frequencies, equipment, and insurance. The Communications Commission disclosed that it does not hold most technical information as spectrum licensing is managed by Ofcom and equipment details are commercial matters for Sure.

Key Facts

• The Communications Commission does not hold information regarding Sure's specific 5G trial equipment, power output, or location details.
• Spectrum licences for the Isle of Man are issued by the UK regulator Ofcom with the approval of the Commission.
• No spectrum assignments to date are specifically for 5G applications, as licensing is service and technology neutral.
• Sure is a private company and is not subject to Freedom of Information requests.
• The Commission published documents on the Future Use of Spectrum and Expressions of Interest for 900 MHz Spectrum.

Data Disclosed

• 15 November 2019
• 17 December 2019
• 23 December 2019
• 700Mhz
• 4Ghz
• 4.6Ghz
• 900 MHz
• 2,3,4 & 4+G
• 1104461
• IM1 2SF

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held by the public authority
• Technical issues relating to equipment are outside the Commission's scope
• Sure is a private company not subject to Freedom of Information

Original Request

Further to the announcement that Sure IOM has commenced 5G trials on the Island in the Douglas area 15 November 2019: a) Please explain in what way Sure's 'trial of 5G operates, when the public have been told that any 5G operating on the Island will be within the existing frequency bands of 700Mhz-4Ghz range? b) Given a) above, if Sure are to use existing 5G frequencies to operate 5G trials how will the service differ? Will they for example be using increased power output to deliver 'faster' download / upload speeds? c) Have any new frequencies been auctioned off yet above the existing 2,3,4 & 4+G ranges of between 700Mhz & 4.6Ghz? And if not how can any 5G trial be 'true 5G'? d) Please detail exactly where the 5G trials will operate and via what equipment - i.e. will equipment be 'lamppost mounted' or will the 5G trial service be delivered via existing antennae? e) Please detail make and model of 5G trial equipment to be used by Sure. f) Please provide copies of 5G trial equipment CE certification and any relevant product and public liability insurance cover for such equipment from Sure's insurance providers. g) Please detail what 5G is and how it will differ from 4G & 4G+ on the Island. h) What benefits will 5G offer the Manx consumer? Thank You

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Ivan Kiely Ground Floor, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas Isle Of Man, IM1 2SF Tel: +44(0)1624 677022 Fax: +44(0)1624 626499

Our ref: 1104461 23 December 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 17 December 2019 and which states:

"Further to the announcement that Sure IOM has commenced 5G trials on the Island in the Douglas area 15 November 2019: a) Please explain in what way Sure's 'trial of 5G operates, when the public have been told that any 5G operating on the Island will be within the existing frequency bands of 700Mhz-4Ghz range? b) Given a) above, if Sure are to use existing 5G frequencies to operate 5G trials how will the service differ? Will they for example be using increased power output to deliver 'faster' download / upload speeds? c) Have any new frequencies been auctioned off yet above the existing 2,3,4 & 4+G ranges of between 700Mhz & 4.6Ghz? And if not how can any 5G trial be 'true 5G'? d) Please detail exactly where the 5G trials will operate and via what equipment - i.e. will equipment be 'lamppost mounted' or will the 5G trial service be delivered via existing antennae? e) Please detail make and model of 5G trial equipment to be used by Sure. f) Please provide copies of 5G trial equipment CE certification and any relevant product and public liability insurance cover for such equipment from Sure's insurance providers. g) Please detail what 5G is and how it will differ from 4G & 4G+ on the Island. h) What benefits will 5G offer the Manx consumer? Thank You"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. The reason for not holding the majority of this information is that spectrum licences are issued by the UK regulator Ofcom with the approval of the Commission. Any technical issues relating to equipment would therefore not be within the Commission’s scope to consider. Sure would be the most appropriate body to direct some of these queries to, however please note that as a private company Sure is not subject to Freedom of Information. Alternatively you may wish to contact Ofcom. Information on how to submit a Freedom of Information request to Ofcom is provided on its website at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about- ofcom/foi-dp/make-foi-request I have responded to each of your questions in turn below:

a) Please explain in what way Sure's 'trial of 5G operates, when the public have been told that any 5G operating on the Island will be within the existing frequency bands of 700Mhz-4Ghz range? The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. b) Given a) above, if Sure are to use existing 5G frequencies to operate 5G trials how will the service differ? Will they for example be using increased power output to deliver 'faster' download / upload speeds? The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. c) Have any new frequencies been auctioned off yet above the existing 2,3,4 & 4+G ranges of between 700Mhz & 4.6Ghz? And if not how can any 5G trial be 'true 5G'? The Commission has assigned spectrum within these frequencies, but none of the assignments to date are for 5G applications. You may wish to read over 2 recent documents that the Commission has published on the Future Use of Spectrum1 and Expressions of Interest for 900 MHz Spectrum2. You will note that the Commission intends to licence spectrum on a Service and Technology Neutral Basis and therefore would not be mandating the use of 5G, or any other service. That would be a commercial decision for the licensee. Ofcom publishes a table of Isle of Man frequency allocations on its website at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/mobile- wireless-broadband/isle-of-man. d) Please detail exactly where the 5G trials will operate and via what equipment - i.e. will equipment be 'lamppost mounted' or will the 5G trial service be delivered via existing antennae? The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. e) Please detail make and model of 5G trial equipment to be used by Sure. The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. f) Please provide copies of 5G trial equipment CE certification and any relevant product and public liability insurance cover for such equipment from Sure's insurance providers. 1 https://www.iomcc.im/spectrum/closed-spectrum-consultations/2019-future-use-of-spectrum/ 2 https://www.iomcc.im/spectrum/closed-spectrum-consultations/2019-call-for-expressions-of- interest-in-the-900mhz-band/

The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. g) Please detail what 5G is and how it will differ from 4G & 4G+ on the Island. The Commission does not hold, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find this information. h) What benefits will 5G offer the Manx consumer? A presentation to Tynwald members by Public Health, supported by both Department for Enterprise and the Commission, stated: “Value of mobile networks to our economic and social development: Through revenue generation, investment and employment They allow businesses and consumers to increase productivity As mobile networks are used for an increasingly wide range of functions, their economic and social impact will continue to rise There are over 88,000 mobile phones on Island increasingly used to communicate, work, play, transact, and to contact the emergency services Without them we would not attract new business to the island and existing ones (and people) would leave”

Please quote the reference number 1104461 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

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An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another

form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely