November 2006 edition

This month's edition of PolicyTracker focuses on the challenges of frequency harmonisation concentrating particularly on the unlicensed bands and the use of the analogue TV bands for other services like mobile. Regulators consider re-planning analogue TV frequencies to make room for mobile The first step towards an EU policy on the digital dividend points out the advantages of making common bands available for mobile services but warns this could require another international conference.

Calling all risk takers A handful of European countries are inching towards a more flexible approach to spectrum management. This is a very slow process and consequently begs a fundamental question; do Europe's regulators need to take bigger risks?

Sweden sets spectrum reform in motion A new spectrum management policy document for Sweden is the stepping stone to an environment where all players can compete, but the removal of some of the restrictions imposed by its current legal framework remain a challenge. Give Commission more power to enforce harmonisation A consultants' study says all EU member states should be required to implement harmonised licence-free bands. They also say access to this type of spectrum needs to be speeded up and simplified. Spectrum reform: devil in the implementation Spectrum management reform has been placed firmly on the European policy agenda, but if interpretation and implementation challenges are not speedily ironed out, a would-be regulatory success story may end in disappointment. US think tank research challenges traditional spectrum theory The tendency in spectrum policy to link the licensed model with property rights and the unlicensed model with a commons may need a serious rethink, argues a new paper by Dr Jim Snider of the New America Foundation. BWA gets leg up in Germany Germany's Federal Network Agency is to auction the coveted 3400-3600 MHz band for the provision Broadband Wireless Access, a move it hopes will stimulate broadband competition and innovation. Near two years on...so far so good? Howls of public protest on spectrum trading, in the UK at least, are coming not from traders frustrated two years on at snail's pace progress, but from those being evicted from tradable bands. Arqiva wins spectrum auction hands down Broadcasting transmission company Arqiva outbid five other operators by £1.3 million to secure a Wireless Telegraphy Act licence for the 412-414 MHz paired with 422-424 MHz frequencies. MEPs endorse flexibility but remain concerned about the 'public interest' Their report is still being finalised but MEPs from the European Parliament's industry committee seem broadly in favour of the spectrum liberalisation agenda proposed by the Commission.

You can download the whole November issue as a PDF by clicking here. We are currently offering new subscribers the opportunity to attend the Second Annual European Spectrum Management Conference and take out a years subscription to PolicyTracker at a saving of over 25% on the usual combined price. The conference is being held in Brussels on 24-25 April 2007. To find out more please click here.

Policytracker October 2006

This month's edition of PolicyTracker, Europe's spectrum management newsletter, takes a wide-ranging look at the likely economic impact of the switchover to digital TV. Offering new broadcast services in the released frequencies is by far the easiest option but encouraging other technologies to use some of the freed-up bands is expected to stimulate innovation and economic growth. The latter option entails huge technical and organisational difficulties and the question remains, is there the political will to tackle them? Editorial: The digital dividend dilemma Revising RRC-06 to aid the introduction of non-broadcast services in the digital dividend bands will be complicated and time-consuming. But could doing nothing be even worse? Commission aims high on digital switchover The European Commission has been feeling its way in the dark as it moves to define a policy for future use of the digital dividend. A tentative position is emerging, but some stakeholders wonder if Commissioners are dreaming. South Africa aims for 2010 digital kick off The World Cup is driving South African policy makers to quickly define a strategy for digital migration with an unofficial target for dual illumination of the two networks set to begin in 2008. The quiet revolution buried in the arcane detail A genuinely technology neutral spectrum licensing regime for a converged world may no longer be a pipe dream. EU member states have just provided some of the information required for the European Commission to formulate such a policy for adoption by 2010. Spectrum usage rights debate inches forward UK communications regulator Ofcom is planning to use one of its upcoming auctions to trial the introduction of Spectrum Usage Rights. MEPs endorse flexibility but remain concerned about the 'public interest' Their report is still being finalised but MEPs from the European Parliament's industry committee seem broadly in favour of the spectrum liberalisation agenda proposed by the Commission. National security impacts auction outcome The US Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) auction closed this month with T-Mobile topping the bids at around $4.2 million but revenues generated may have been dampened by national security concerns. Critics unconvinced by FCC "white space" plans The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced plans for unlicensed devices to gain access to the coveted television broadcast spectrum below 900 MHz, but is this anything more than a ploy to appease Congress? In a second article former FCC employee, Michael Marcus, gives his own detailed analysis. Legal ruling gives boost to GSM gateways The UK's Competition Appeals Tribunal has dismissed claims by the regulator Ofcom that a banned technique used to cut the cost of calling mobile phones breached laws on the use of spectrum. Trading will not bridge the digital divide A technology neutral approach to spectrum licensing is popular in Africa but there is little appetite for full liberalisation. Quite right too, says one of Europe's leading liberalisers. Spectrum auctions: beware the minefield Thinking about bidding for one of the UK's upcoming spectrum auctions? Be warned - it is more complex than it looks.

Policytracker September 2006

This month's edition of PolicyTracker highlights how the European Commission is stepping up the pressure on member states to produce comprehensive plans for what promises to be the decade's biggest spectrum release. All national administrations have been asked to submit an inventory of what they are doing to reallocate the analogue TV frequencies as support grows for regional harmonisation of the released bands. Read the full story here.

The other articles in PolicyTracker this month include:

Legal ruling backs mobile call cost-cutting scheme Tribunal dismisses key Ofcom arguments in GSM gateways case

Danish authorities rethink spectrum management A move away from command and control

South African spectrum policy takes cue from Europe Market demand forces reassessment Plans for terrestrial services in fixed satellite bands meet resistance Satellite vs 3G: dispute intensifies Norway moves with the mobile times 2.3 GHz spectrum to be auctioned Radio mic users fear the future Pan-European harmonisation not an option, says Ofcom. Evolution not Revolution Competition is the only way to create spectrum flexibility says Professor Gérard Pogorel

PolicyTracker July 2006

Commission proposes single European spectrum regulator The communications framework review - published today - contains familiar proposals, including trading and service and technology neutrality, but the unexpected bombshell is the creation of a pan-European spectrum regulator. Trading comes to France and Germany (audio available) Europe is taking an important step towards spectrum liberalisation with Germany and France announcing that they will gradually introduce the ability to independently trade spectrum licences. ____________ RRC-06 special report Europe clears way for non-broadcast applications in TV bands RRC-06 may be criticised as inefficient and outdated, but a declaration agreed towards the end of the proceedings could see European countries forging ahead with non-TV services in the UHF spectrum. RRC-06 plan delivers the goods for broadcasting services The results of the Regional Radio Conference of 2006 may look 'promising' but whether the compromise agreement for flexible use of frequency allocations for non-broadcast purposes goes far enough, remains to be seen. Analogue equipment dumping could delay switchover Digital switchover in parts of Region 1 of the International Telecommunication Union could be delayed if richer countries are not curtailed from dumping analogue equipment in poorer areas. ____________ Standards battle over RFID tags likely Tumbling costs may have caused an explosion of Radio Frequency Identification tags in recent years, but problems with international compatibility, interference and privacy remain. Ubiquitous communications possible but not before 2020 The "Utopian dream" of a fully fledged cognitive network may be possible within fifteen years but not before a complex jigsaw of technical, policy and legal challenges is pieced together. Norwegian DTT network sparks competition concerns Norway’s protracted debate over the building of a DTT network is over but concerns remain over the Culture Ministry’s role in granting the concession to a consortium part-owned by NRK, the state-funded broadcaster. Liberaliser offers limited flexibility in emergency band Norway is inviting commercial applications for a TETRA licence which in most other European countries is allocated to the police or emergency services. Chinese authorities walk out of ballot resolution meeting Tensions are mounting at the ballot resolution meeting for the existing international WLAN security standard 8802-11 which got underway in Prague this week. Will Ofcom's spectrum usage rights deliver? With the closure of its consultation this week, Ofcom edges a step closer to defining spectrum usage rights. Here Australia's Michael Whittaker explains why he thinks the UK's communications regulator is barking up the wrong tree.

PolicyTracker June 2006

Appeal launched against ISO's rejection of Chinese wireless standard China has made serious allegations against the IEEE in what is being called a last ditch attempt to secure a place on the global stage for WAPI, their own wireless LAN security standard. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=358 Editorial: the first of many battles? The WAPI dispute reflects China's strategy for economic growth - developing homegrown technologies http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=361 There is also a special report on RRC-06, which is coming to a close in Geneva: Sparks fly at RRC-06 over technology neutrality One of the central policy objectives of the European Commission is said to be coming under pressure at the Regional Radio Conference in Geneva where now, in the third week, the discussions are beginning to hot up. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=365 A foretaste of the political battles to come over the digital dividend As regulators plan broadcasting frequency allocations for the digital age it is becoming clear that there will be substantial pressure to allocate the released frequencies to terrestrial High Definition Television. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=356 European Parliament to investigate digital dividend (Audio available) The industry, research and energy (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament is to hold a hearing on allocating the frequencies released by analogue TV switch off. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=349 Opinion: into the brave new digital world Our expert commentator asks whether allocating the digital dividend can be left completely to the market. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=359 Other stories: France takes the lead in GSM re-farming It is technically possible to use the GSM bands for 3G says the European regulators organisation, CEPT, but so far only France has agreed to do this and a consistent EU approach seems unlikely. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=364 Rumbles of discontent as new occupants moved into L-band Mobile TV is transforming spectrum planning in Europe as regulators seek to open up L-band, currently harmonised for terrestrial and satellite DAB. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=362 Setting a dangerous precedent? The growing interest in using C-band for UMTS or wireless broadband is ringing alarm bells for satellite operators. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=347 Digital TV battle in Norway settled After long and hard negotiations the concession to build Norway's new digital television network has gone to NTV, owned jointly by the three terrestrial channels. http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=363

PolicyTracker May 2006

Our theme this month is technology and service neutral licensing - click here to download the whole issue as a pdf or use the links below to read individual stories:

The EU’s first roadmap for full liberalisation Slotting in the final piece of the liberalisation jigsaw could be worth nearly £1bn a year says Ofcom, which is proposing technology and service neutral licences.

No need for more licence-exempt spectrum There is no congestion of the unlicensed bands according to the preliminary findings of an EC-commissioned study into the collective use of spectrum. Radio mics: Casualties of switchover? Could digital TV cost the entertainment industries millions? Liberalisation means tackling interference Countries relying on self-regulation place an unfair burden on industry says a new book

Liberalisation pioneer fails to close legal loopholes Ten years on and Guatemala’s public service broadcasters are in a legal no man’s land Financial incentives overcome resistance to mobile phones on aircraft Europe outstrips US in setting a regulatory framework Can 3G spectrum auctions save US budget deficit? US government accused of using spectrum as a cash cow 12 companies win UK low power mobile spectrum Ofcom has announced the results of its first spectrum auction

PolicyTracker April 2006

2.5 GHz special report: 3G or technology neutrality?

Commission admits defeat Regulators can't agree on a proposal to allow WiMAX Europe-wide access to 2.5 GHz Europe divided, Asia takes the lead South Korea will soon tell us whether the 2.5 GHz stalemate really matters. Time to call the lawyers? Are there grounds for legal action over the allocation of 2.5 GHz? Digital dividend A clear picture has yet to emerge Business plans are hit by the difficulties of predicting the pattern of frequency release. Non-broadcasters could face a long wait New services may not get fresh spectrum for several years. Other news

Forget about the politics! Progress on UWB in Europe depends on judging the technology by its own merits. European Commission lends strong support to RFID tags Orwellian or an aid to better customer relations? Intelligent cars sans spectrum Given frequency constraints can safety be guaranteed? UK’s first mobile TV spectrum up for auction in 2007 Huge interested expected in L-band licences Impasse reached on powerline emissions Work on a network emission standard has been suspended until “new technology” is in place.