Dr William Webb, Senior Consultant in wireless technology with PA Consulting Group, the leading international management, systems and technology consultancy, has been appointed to the Spectrum Management Advisory Group (SMAG), a non-departmental public body that reports directly to Government ministers on strategic radio spectrum issues.
Under the chairmanship of Dr John Forrest CBE, SMAG has been advising the UK Government on many matters since 1998. As the forerunner to his appointment, Dr Webb was part of the SMAG team, which earlier this year gave evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee studying the Draft Communications Bill.
Dr Webb is an expert on the wireless communications industry with particular strengths in areas where strategy and technology overlap. His extensive insight will support the Group's Terms of reference in providing independent, strategic advice on spectrum management policy issues to the responsible DTI minister.
The Group recognizes the vast range of issues facing the field of spectrum management. Radio continues to be one of the most dynamic business sectors and a key component of the communications infrastructure. Success in ensuring the availability of quality spectrum will feed innovation and growth, and encourage wealth creation, competitiveness, consumer benefits and jobs.
Dr William Webb, mentioned in "Who's Who in America", was previously Director of Corporate Strategy (Chicago) for Motorola. Prior to that, he was employed by a number of consultancies in the UK, encompassing work that led to the UK spectrum auctions and to the railway GSM radio system. He is the author of seven books on wireless communications - including most recently "The Future of Wireless Communications" Artech House 2001. He sits on a number of editorial panels, has published over 50 papers, holds four patents, is a Fellow of IEE and is a senior member of IEEE. He is based at PA's international Technology Centre in Cambridge.
