IDG News Service — The use of the 1.4GHz band for a supplemental mobile downlink could solve Europe's spectrum-crunch problem, according to a new report presented Wednesday.

As more and more users go mobile, radio spectrum is an increasingly precious resource in the European Union. However, finite spectrum availability means that new ways of allocating and using the spectrum must be found.

"It is increasingly important that we find a solution to ease the spectrum crunch, as around three-quarters of mobile broadband traffic last year was estimated to be multimedia -- and this will only grow. The 1.4GHz band is the ideal solution, not just to help address the spectrum crunch, but as an important step forward in achieving the E.U.'s Digital Agenda target of providing 30M bps access to all European citizens by 2020," said Phillipa Marks, director at Plum Consulting.

Currently, 10 million European households, particularly in less densely populated areas, have no access to broadband. "It's a cornerstone of our Radio Spectrum Policy Program to facilitate wireless broadband access by making available radio spectrum in all member states, quickly, and under conditions that are conducive to consumer welfare," said Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes.

"In developing its digital sector, Europe is taking part in a global game. And we are at risk of being outclassed by the other players -- who are already engaging in major spectrum initiatives. To the West, we know the importance of wireless in President Obama's broadband plan. We also see an acceleration of developments to our East. We are at risk of being squeezed from both sides," said Kroes.

The so-called 'digital dividend' 800MHz band made available by the move of terrestrial television from analogue to digital is just one band that has been made available, but more capacity is still needed and this is where 1.4GHz may help.

Almost all spectrum allocations for 3G and 4G in Europe currently come in paired bands -- one for uploads and one for downloads. However there is up to eight times more data being downloaded than is being uploaded in mobile networks. And this imbalance will only grow as rich mobile content, such as videos, apps and ebooks, is increasingly made available. Using the 1.4GHz band as a supplementary download band in addition to the paired bands would dramatically ease capacity according to the Plum Consulting report.

The report, presented at the 6th Annual European Spectrum Management Conference in Brussels, estimated that the use of 1.4GHz could generate as much as €54 billion (US$77.97 billion) over a 10-year period. "And the good thing is that we are not simply taking spectrum away from one user to give it to another. Rather, we ensure that the existing spectrum can be used more intensely," said Kroes.

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