High-speed broadband
A reliable broadband infrastructure is required in all regions to ensure that inhabitants and businesses throughout Switzerland are able to benefit from digitalisation. With the report 'Federal Strategy for a Very High Capacity Network', the Federal Council shows how high-speed internet can also be implemented in regions in which expansion is not worthwhile for the industry. The Federal Council has tasked the DETEC with making suggestions for further action by the end of the year. It approved the 'Federal Strategy for a Very High Capacity Network' at its meeting on 28 June 2023. The report fulfils the postulate of the same name by the National Council's Transport and Telecommunications Committee.
For the deployment of 5G, operators are installing new 'adaptive antennas' that transmit information specifically to individual users who therefore benefit from optimal data transmission rate. In all other directions, transmission power is reduced.
Demand exists for powerful broadband networks for the internet, mobile television and data transmission services, e.g. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) for telephone lines or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) for mobile telephony. For even greater transmission capacity, high-bandwidth next generation networks - NGNs - exist which use technologies such as DOCSIS-3 (cable television), FTTH (fibre) and LTE (Long Term Evolution) in mobile telephony.
In order to allow the development of proposed services and applications on the internet, the speed and capacity of the network have to increase continuously. Current technology will not be adequate in the long term. The deployment of optical fibre to businesses and households must respond to the challenge of tomorrow's information society. The term "Fibre To The Home" (FTTH) describes the telecommunications network which brings optical fibre to households and businesses.
Various forecasts predict that the use of mobile phones and data traffic over the mobile network will increase markedly between 2012 and 2020. This growth cannot be handled merely by providing new mobile radio frequencies. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a powerful mobile radio technology that can meet the need for greater capacity in mobile communications. Some mobile operators have already carried out LTE trials in Switzerland; an auction of mobile spectrum will provide frequency bands which are suitable for this technology. Is it foreseeable that it will be possible for the mobile customer base in Switzerland to use LTE. When this will actually happen, however, remains an open question.
Broadband
Extremely powerful and complex third-generation (3G) digital mobile telephony system, which among other things allows higher data transmission rates across the air interface than GSM. The document gives an overview of the technology and services, frequencies and network construction plus environmental aspects.
PLC is a "broadband" technology (e.g. for internet data traffic), which could compete over the "last mile" to end users with other broadband access technologies such as xDSL (broadband technology on ordinary telephone lines) and CATV (broadband technology on the TV cable network).
Narrowband
Extremely powerful and complex second-generation (2G) digital mobile telephony system. The document gives an overview of the technology and services, frequencies and network construction plus environmental aspects.
Professional radiocommunication standard approved by ETSI and generally used for business communication and communication between security services.
Professional radiocommunication standard based on the TETRAPOL standard; specially developed to meet the requirements of security services.
Local networks
Bluetooth technology is an open communication standard enabling bidirectional data transmission to be established between computers, tablets or smartphones and their peripherals, as well as various types of domestic electronic devices, via a short-distance radio link (UHF).
WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network. It is a capable yet economical system which provides a wireless extension to the ubiquitous Ethernet data network. These documents give an overview of the technology as well as the regulatory situation regarding the use of WLAN's.
