Emerging issues in radio spectrum

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. WRC-07: main results and impact

• 2.1. Situation before the conference: the mobile frequency bands worldwide
• 2.2. What was at stake?
  • 2.2.1. Mobile services future needs
  • 2.2.2. Mobile services candidate bands
• 2.3. Outcome - mobile spectrum
  • 2.3.1. WiMAX adopted as an IMT technology
  • 2.3.2. New IMT bands: the decisions at WRC-07
• 2.4. WRC-11 agenda
• 2.5. Conclusions on WRC-07 and its likely consequences

3. Digital Dividend

• 3.1. Definition
• 3.2. Status of analogue TV switch-off
• 3.3. Situation of the Digital Dividend
  • 3.3.1. Worldwide regulatory context
  • 3.3.2. European context
  • 3.3.3. Lessons from the 700 MHz auctions in the United States - 2008
  • 3.3.4. Japan
  • 3.3.5. Increasing the Digital Dividend: the Overlay/White space concept
• 3.4. Conclusions on the Digital Dividend

4. What is the value of new frequency bands?

• 4.1. How much spectrum do mobile operators have?
• 4.2. Factors affecting the value of the spectrum
  • 4.2.1. Which factors increase the value of the spectrum?
  • 4.2.2. Factors that will affect the cost of spectrum in the future
• 4.3. New frequency bands for mobile services
  • 4.3.1. 3.5 GHz spectrum in Europe
  • 4.3.2. 2.6 GHz spectrum in Europe
  • 4.3.3. 2.6 GHz in the USA
  • 4.3.4. New 2 GHz spectrum in the USA
  • 4.3.5. 2.6 GHz in Japan
  • 4.3.6. Cost of 2.6 GHz licences
  • 4.3.7. Others frequency bands
• 4.4. Conclusions on spectrum/ licences cost

5. Trends 2009-2014

• 5.1. Market development: mobile data explodes
• 5.2. New spectrum resources
• 5.3. Other regulatory issues

6. Glossary

7. Annex

Tables and Figures

• Table 1: Main frequency bands for UMTS/HSPA deployment - FDD mode
• Table 2: Main frequency bands for UMTS/HSPA deployment - TDD mode
• Table 3: IMT candidate bands at WRC-07
• Table 4: Advantages and drawbacks of IMT-Advanced candidate bands in Europe
• Table 5: The IMT technologies
• Table 6: WiMAX frequency bands
• Table 7: WRC-07 - new frequency bands for mobile services
• Table 8: Spectrum allocated to mobile services after WRC-07 (Europe)
• Table 9: WRC-11 agenda
• Table 10: Broadcast - Analogue switch-off timetables
• Table 11: Approaches towards Digital Dividend in selected countries
• Table 12: Digital Dividend use - regulatory context in Europe
• Table 13: Digital Dividend timetable in France
• Table 14: US 700 MHz auctions
• Table 15: Summary of US 700 MHz auctions
• Table 16: FDD spectrum assets for selected operators (end-2007)
• Table 17: FDD mobile spectrum availability in Western Europe
• Table 18: LTE frequency bands by geographical area
• Table 19: TDD and FDD mode advantages and drawbacks
• Table 20: Bands and technologies associated with TDD and FDD modes
• Table 21: Cost of the 3.5 GHz licences
• Table 22: Situation of the 2.5-2.69 GHz band
• Table 23: Norwegian 2.6 GHz auctions results
• Table 24: Swedish 2.6 GHz auctions results
• Table 25: 2.6 GHz operators in Japan
• Table 26: Cost of 2.6 GHz licences
• Table 27: Other mobile frequency bands
• Table 28: Norwegian 2 GHz auction result
• Table 29: 900 MHz band use for 3G - June 2008
• Table 30: Evaluation of future spectrum auctions in Western Europe
• Table 31: Mobile frequency bands in Europe

• Figure 1: Frequency bands and average ranges
• Figure 2: Peak data rates - mobile technologies
• Figure 3: Data rates and radio channels for IMT technologies
• Figure 4: IMT candidate bands
• Figure 5: Mobile frequency bands in Europe after WRC-07
• Figure 6: Situation of the 698-960 MHz band after WRC-07
• Figure 7: Example of a possible configuration for the UHF sub-band in Western Europe
• Figure 8: Digital Dividend timetable in Europe
• Figure 9: "White space" system overview
• Figure 10: DTT use of TV channels 24, 30 and 56 showing potential white spaces
• Figure 11: Value of the spectrum for mobile/BWA actors
• Figure 12: TDD and FDD developments
• Figure 13: Illustration of the boundaries of the BEM in the 2.6 GHz band
• Figure 14: The CEPT and Norwegian band plans for the 2.6 GHz band
• Figure 15: Price per MHz per pop