Finland to hold its first spectrum auction

The sale of 2.6GHz spectrum in November will be the first time Finland has sold a band to the highest bidder. It has previously preferred less market-based forms of assignment. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/finland-to-hold-its-first-spectrum-auction

Iran: A license too far?

Having failed to find a foreign company to be its third mobile operator, with three license awards having gone sour this year already, Iran will try again says its new Communications and Information Technology Minister. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/iran-a-license-too-far

Orange/T-Mobile merger further confuses UK refarming plans

If the proposed merger between the UK operations of France Telecom's Orange and Deutsche Telkom's T-Mobile gets the green light, it adds another complication to the protracted negotiations over the reassignment of UK mobile spectrum. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/orange-t-mobile-merger-further-confuses-uk-refarming-plans

Jordanian regulator meets Orange halfway on 3G licensing terms

Jordan has awarded its first 3G license following a protracted period of negotiations between the eventual licensee, Orange Jordan, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/jordanian-regulator-meets-orange-halfway-on-3g-licensing-terms

Israel prevents launch of Palestine’s second mobile operator

An investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in setting up Palestine’s second mobile network could come to nothing due to Israel’s refusal to release 1 MHz of GSM spectrum. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/israel-prevents-launch-of-palestine2019s-second-mobile-operator

New operators share 90MHz of prime Chilean spectrum

At a time when consolidation is the name of the game in much of the world, Chile has just awarded two new 3G licenses to give the country of 16 million people a total of five mobile operators. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/new-operators-share-90mhz-of-prime-chilean-spectrum

Public policy issues for femtocells start to become clear

Potential problems for femtocells like interference, providing emergency service location information and common definitions for the technology are being raised in international forums but a consensus has yet to emerge on how to deal with them 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/public-policy-issues-for-femtocells-start-to-become-clear

Indian “super auction” planned before year end

India now seems on track to proceed with an auction of seven national licenses, covering both 3G and WiMAX frequencies. The opportunity to address a market of over a billion people means the outcome is being eagerly anticipated. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/indian-201csuper-auction201d-planned-before-year-end

Digital dividend harmonisation would boost EU economy by “up to €95 billion”

The eagerly-awaited consultants report commissioned by Brussels has concluded that a harmonised mobile sub-band will bring enormous economic benefits and should be mandated in all member states.

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/digital-dividend-harmonisation-would-boost-eu-economy-by-201cup-to-20ac95-billion201d

UK mobile merger boosts French opposition to fourth license

The announcement of a proposed merger of the UK mobile operations of France Telecom’s Orange and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile strengthens the arguments of the incumbent French operators who are appealing to the EU over the imminent issue of a further 3G license. 

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/uk-mobile-merger-boosts-french-opposition-to-fourth-license

Portugal under pressure to harmonise digital dividend spectrum

Portugal’s consultation on the reuse of the analogue TV frequencies has demonstrated considerable support for following Spain and adopting the mobile-friendly approach proposed by the European Commission.

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/portugal-under-pressure-to-harmonise-digital-dividend-spectrum

The PolicyTracker Middle East Spectrum Conference

EC digital dividend plans: not everyone is convinced

Although Europe’s big economies are supporting the harmonisation of the 800 MHz band due to be proposed in a Commission Communication this autumn there is still significant opposition from broadcasters and some national administrations.

Read the full article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/ec-digital-dividend-plans-not-everyone-is-convinced

September 2009 printed issue available for download

Our top story this month is the US online spectrum marketplace which has brought fallow spectrum back into use.

We also have articles on the challenges of greening spectrum policy and more on the controversy over the future of UK mobile spectrum.

Download the issue here:

https://www.policytracker.com/images/Newsletter%20pdfs/PT-Sept-09.pdf

Proposed US tax on spectrum usage unlikely to be approved

Plans by the Obama Administration to levy new spectrum licence user fees appear to be headed nowhere, observers say. 

Read the article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/proposed-us-tax-on-spectrum-usage-unlikely-to-be-approved