Emerging issues in radio spectrum

Published by	IDATE
Published	September, 2008	Product code	74457
Content info	50 pages
Price	Not Available

Introduction
Related Reports

This publication has been discontinued on November 23, 2011.

Introduction

Abstract

The explosive growth of mobile data services will impact spectrum usage and valuation in the coming years. It will reinforce the interest of mobile operators for both lower frequency and high frequency bands. This report focuses on three main topics: the outcome of the WRC-07, the digital dividend and the new frequency bands and their associated valuation.

Key questions

What were the World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 outcome and the agenda for the next radiocommunication conference in 2011?
Why is the digital dividend question so important?
What are the results of the auctions in the USA for the 700 MHz band?
Which factors affect the value of the spectrum?
Which frequency bands will be made available in the coming years in Europe, USA and Japan?
What is the value of new frequency band?

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