Friday fragments - comms news from around the web for 19 September 2014

A round-up of the week's critical communications and public safety radio news for Friday, 19 September 2014.

Comms Connect - only two weeks to go! If you haven't registered for Comms Connect Melbourne yet, now is the time to do so. With more than 60 local and international speakers, almost 100 exhibitors and around 1000 people expected to attend, Comms Connect is the place where you can learn, network and generate new business. Industry workshops will take place on 30 September, followed by the conference and exhibition proper on 1 and 2 October. See the website for full details.

ARCIA Gala Dinner. And don't forget that, concurrent with Comms Connect, the ARCIA Industry Gala Dinner will be held on the evening of 1 October at the same venue, the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. You can book your tickets via the ARCIA website.

UK hams could be allowed to encrypt. UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is asking for feedback on proposals that would see hams being able to communicate with emergency services operators using encryption, which they are presently forbidden from doing.

Airbus to sell off comms divisions. Airbus Defence and Space has decided to divest itself of its PMR and satellite comms arms, following a comprehensive review of the company's portfolio.

Telstra plans 90% LTE 700 MHz coverage by next year. Telstra aims to have 90% of the Australian population covered by 700 MHz LTE by January 2015. The service will span a 3 km radius of capital city CBDs, plus 50 regional centres. The company plans to have 1 million 700 MHz units in use by subscribers by the end of 2015.

Greece's spectrum auction proves popular. The Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) is planning to auction six blocks of 2x5 MHz of 800 MHz and fourteen 5 MHz blocks of paired 2.6 GHz spectrum, as well as four 10 MHz blocks of unpaired 2.6 GHz. All three of the country's mobile phone operators have signed up for the auction, which will be decided by mid-October.

Make sure your business or organisation doesn't miss out on a mention in Critical Comms magazine and on CriticalComms.com.au. Send your press releases and other announcements to cc@westwick-farrow.com.au.