Radio Spectrum: Key issues

Abstract

Access to the radio spectrum is a critical requirement for all sectors using wireless technologies, such as media, mobile communications, defence and civil aviation.

In the telecom sector, spectrum allocation decisions, spectrum standardization decisions and spectrum availability are decisive to both equipment vendors and operators.

For mobile network equipment vendors, spectrum frequency harmonization has a major impact on costs at the terminal and network levels. Furthermore new technologies can only be deployed once the regulators or spectrum agencies give the go ahead and once the frequency bands have been allocated.

At the same time, mobile network operators are experiencing major increase in mobile network traffic every year. Irruption of new services like video services and always-on internet connections represent real severance in network capacity requirements. Most recent estimations of future spectrum requirements by the ITU confirm this global trend for the future.

This year, the ITU will hold The World Radio Communication Conference. On this occasion ITU Radio regulations will be updated and the rules that will define the spectrum landscape for the years to come will be agreed on a global basis.

This report looks at how the perception of radio spectrum is evolving today and which players are best placed to seize significant shares of spectrum assets.

• Major break points in the spectrum field
• Spectrum pricing
• Developments in spectrum regulation
• Impact of analogue switch-off
• Technology breakdowns impacting spectrum policies and strategies
• Competition for spectrum assets & player positioning
• Outlooks & scenarios

• 2.1 Current spectrum management regimes
  • Command and control, market mechanisms and commons
  • Three criteria: frequency allocation, technology standardization, usage rights types
  • New set of spectrum management regimes
• 2.2 Development of spectrum flexible usage and market mechanisms
  • Service / technology independent spectrum allocation
  • Secondary market and frequency trading
  • Spectrum sharing
  • Impact of technological developments on spectrum regulation
• 2.3 Positioning of main national regulators
  • Evolutionary change desired
  • Challenges for telecom regulators
  • Where are we heading: increased fragmentation or renewed harmonization?

• 3G
• 4G
• BWA
• Fixed WiMAX
• FMC
• IMT
• Mobile TV
• Mobile WiMAX
• .....

• What market factors are shaping the spectrum landscape?
• What are the stakes involved in spectrum pricing?
• Who will benefit from the digital dividend?
• What are the spectrum issues per country? per sector?
• How are players and regulators positioning themselves?
• Which spectrum for WiMAX technology?
• Which spectrum for 4G?
• How will spectrum prices evolve?

• Manufacturers
  • Identify spectrum standardisation decisions and the impact on technology deployments
  • Take account of the timeline for service rollouts
• Fixed and mobile telecom operators and ISPs
  • Assess the opportunities that new radio technologies represent, and the issues involved in new frequency band allocations
  • New threats and opportunities for telecom operators' business models
  • Understand the strategic implications for major players affected by changes in spectrum regimes
• Regulators
  • Identify the approaches for determining optimum choices of spectrum allocation
  • Validate the frequency bands that will actually be used and assess future demands for spectrum
• Investors and analysts
  • Assess new radio technologies and their relevant markets
  • Identify the most dynamic key players (operators and suppliers)