Spectrum Policies for mobile broadband development

Transcription

1 Spectrum Policies for mobile broadband development Citel-Osiptel Workshop on Digital Inclusion and Meaningful Broadband Adoption in the Americas April 17, 2017 Lima, Peru Carolina Limbatto, Cullen International

2 Mobile broadband connectivity More spectrum, harmonised spectrum Mobile communications are an essential service with increasing applications and solutions supported by mobile networks: Wireless access to networks depends on access to radio spectrum. A harmonised spectrum allocation may help to boost mobile broadband deployment and use. 2

3 Spectrum for mobile broadband Status in the Americas Spectrum allocated and assigned to mobile services LTE offers Digital dividend (1st and 2nd) Spectrum awards in progress Importance of coverage and social obligations 3

4 Spectrum assignment in LTE bands Most countries auctioned AWS or 700 * Brazil: only national licences ** United States: Licences from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. 700 spectrum band includes 6 of unpaired spectrum 4

5 LTE Commercial offers in Latam 1800/1900 also for 4G Movistar in 1900 AT&T and Telcel in AWS Altan in 700 AWS and 2.5 GHz AWS and/or 700 Also 1800/1900 Also 2.5/2.6 GHz ICE in 2.5GHz Others in 1800 CNT in 700 and AWS Claro in AWS Movistar in , 2.6 GHz and 450 Incumbents: 700 and 2.5 GHz WOM: AWS 1900 Personal 700 : Copaco AWS: all operators but Personal 5

6 Analog switch off Avoid interference, more spectrum available Ecuador Paraguay United States Canada Mexico Brazil Chile Peru Costa Rica Argentina Colombia No need to wait until analog switch off to assign Digital Dividend 6

7 Second digital dividend 600 in the Americas Clock phase incentive auction to award 84 in 600 finished in Feb Industry Canada announced that CA will also plan a incentive auction to migrate broadcasters from 600 IFT stated that 600 will be freed for mobile broadband Enacom mandate migration of broadcasters in 600 to GHz within 4 years 7

8 Mobile broadband coverage Obligations set in spectrum auctions Coverage obligations 700 : 92.2% pop. by Jan. 2022, 30% pop. by March 31, 2018 Main roads Incumbents: 2.6 GHz: 543 rural localities to be covered (181 for each MNO) 700 : 1,281 rural localities and 13 routes (854km) 700 and AWS: towns and cities with over 500 population a 20 km radius from routes and roads No coverage obligations 450 : Rural coverage obligations, coverage can be provided by use of any spectrum 2.5GHz: coverage obligations in cities with more than 30,000 by Dec AWS: 30 towns with low population within 30 months from spectrum assignment (Feb. 12, 2016). 8

9 Spectrum harmonisation Status in the Americas Benefits of spectrum allocation Spectrum bands used in the Americas The way forward 9

10 Spectrum harmonisation Benefits Economies of scale Lower de cost to produce handsets and mobile infrastructure equipment Incentives competition and innovation between vendors Interoperability and service portability International roaming, with the same handset a quality of service (i.e. access to mobile broadband) Cross-border interference Avoids services interferences in cross-border area 10

11 Mobile service in Latam Spectrum bands used Country Spectrum Band Argentina P* P5 O O P* O P5 O O O 2.1 GHz 2.5/2.6 GHz Brazil P* P5 P5 P O P5 O P5 O P5* 5 Chile P* P5 O O P* O P O O P* Colombia O P5 O O P* O P O O P* Costa Rica O P O O O P* O O P P* Ecuador P* P O O P* O P* O O O Mexico P* P5 O O P* O P5* O O O Peru P* P5 P5 O P* O P5* O O P Paraguay P P5 P O P* O P* O O P References: * uses LTE technology; 5regional and local licences awarded 11

12 The way forward on spectrum harmonisation A wider harmonisation could boost American mobile market by reducing costs and increasing innovation Changing current and historic allocation could be costly and not aligned with national spectrum plans and strategies The Americas have a an opportunity of a more harmonised approach for new mobile technologies, experience in 700 and AWS 12 12

13 Summary Spectrum for mobile broadband There were several spectrum awards in the Americas, still below ITU s recommendations Operators are using several LTE bands to provide mobile broadband More spectrum: 1 st and 2 nd digital dividend Benefits of spectrum harmonisation for new mobile broadband technologies 13

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