Wednesday, March 31, 2010

T-Mobile/Orange ordered to sell 1800 MHz spectrum to single buyer

The European Commission has released further details of the spectrum-related conditions related to the merger of the UK operations of T-Mobile and Orange. 

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Switzerland tries to gauge demand for digital terrestrial television

The Swiss regulator, Ofcom, has opened a consultation to assess how many of the non-public broadcasters want to provide DVB-T services. 

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Border issues with Russia hampers use of digital dividend band

Under pressure to free up the 800 MHz band for wireless services, some European countries are still trying to resolve interference problems with Russia. The RSPG wants the EU to play a larger role in negotiations. 

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

German court throws out attempts to block auction

A bid by Germany's two smallest mobile operators to halt the planned April 12 superauction of 340 MHz of spectrum in four bands has failed. 

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Fear of regional lag dominates first EU spectrum summit

There may be different views on the future of EU spectrum policy but summit participants agreed on the need to stop the region falling behind the US and Asia 

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"Spectrum Dashboard" launched by US regulator

US telecoms regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a beta version of a user-friendly online spectrum information system featuring licensing data, information, maps and analysis. 

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This article expands on an issue mentioned in the story below, published earlier today:

US “cash for your spectrum” scheme moves off the drawing board

FCC proposals for "incentive" spectrum auctions in which licensees voluntarily give up their spectrum for sale has been welcomed but experts say the devil is in the implementation details. 

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Friday, March 19, 2010

Time is running out to tackle satellite's spectrum shortfall, insiders say

International scientific and technological bodies as well as some countries are raising concerns about mobile satellite allocations being suggested for consideration at WRC-12 

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Thursday, March 18, 2010

Dutch 2.6 GHz auction attracts nine entrants

Thanks to restrictions which ensure the bulk of spectrum is reserved for newcomers to the local telecoms market, the upcoming Dutch 2.6 GHz auction has attracted nine bidders. 

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

FCC publishes national broadband plan explaining how to free up 500MHz

Reaction to the spectrum plan has been generally positive, but one FCC commissioner has raised concerns about damaging the public interest. 

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Satellite and aeronautical interests disagree over changes to coordination procedures

Stakeholders are divided on whether new approaches are needed to ease the deployment of aeronautical services by the mobile satellite community 

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Monday, March 15, 2010

Auctions and trades to set the framework for UK spectrum

If the British government-sponsored spectrum modernisation programme manages to get through the legislative process and possible legal action, it will result in a liberalised spectrum market driven by the laws of supply and demand. 

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Friday, March 12, 2010

Passage of UK spectrum proposals depends on the Tories and BT

The UK government's plans for digital mobile spectrum look unlikely to be included in the normal business of this parliament but could get agreement in a special "unfinished business" session if they get multi-party consensus. 

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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

UK Government makes decision on mobile spectrum

Ministers have announced that they are backing a package of measures very similar to that suggested by the UK regulator some years ago. The 2.6 GHz centre band is to be auctioned as soon as possible. 

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Monday, March 08, 2010

New Commissioner adopts a broader view of spectrum

Neelie Kroes is emphasising the many uses of spectrum and its contribution to economic recovery
Read more here:
Three places left:
Understanding Modern Spectrum Management
A five day residential training course
22 - 26 March 2010, Merton College, Oxford
The Global Spectrum Database
The ultimate reference source for mobile and wireless broadband spectrum
Ongoing consultations
Consultation on 3G Cellular Spectrum Cap (Feb 18, 2010- Mar 31, 2010) Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning Dept , New Zealand
Rationalization of Annual Radio Frequency Spectrum Fee (Feb 19, 2010- Mar 15, 2010) Pakistan Telecommunications Authority , Pakistan
Proposed Regulatory Framework for 60 GHz Frequency Band (Feb 20, 2010- Mar 31, 2010 12:00 PM) Info-communications Development Authority , Singapore
Applying spectrum pricing to the Aeronautical sector (Dec 22, 2009- April 22, 2010) Ofcom , UK
Closing date for this consultation has been extended by a month
Pre-consultation paper on IMT-Advanced (4G) Mobile wireless broadband services (Feb 10, 2010- Mar 15, 2010) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India , India
Review of the 2.5GHz band and long-term arrangements for ENG (Jan 14, 2010- Mar 12, 2010) Australian Communications and Media Authority, Australia

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Commission consultation on future radio spectrum policy

The EC is seeking input for its Radio Spectrum Policy Programme to be submitted as a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and Council of Ministers by mid-2010.

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Date announced for MEPs' spectrum summit

The European Parliament and Commission are cosponsoring a 22-23 March spectrum mini-conference to gather stakeholder input on the strategic issues for future spectrum policy. 

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Wednesday, March 03, 2010

UK spectrum leasing postponed until after election

The proposed introduction of spectrum leasing is the latest Ofcom liberalisation proposal to be put on ice by the British government to the dismay of aspiring band managers. 

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Tuesday, March 02, 2010

T-Mobile/Orange merger approval leaves spectrum reallocation in limbo

An unexpectedly swift green light from the European Commission raises a host of questions about the way forward on equitable spectrum distribution among the UK's mobile operators. 

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March 2010 PDF edition available for download

The latest edition of the PolicyTracker monthly spectrum management newsletter is now available for download. 

This month we focus on three issues: developments at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona; the implications of the US national broadband plan for spectrum policy in the US; and the continuing delays over the release of digital spectrum in the UK. This last series of articles will be updated later today with a story on the European Commission's decision to approve the T-Mobile/Orange merger. 

You can download our March 2010 issue here: 



PolicyTracker March 2010: Contents

UK digital spectrum

1
UK 2.6 GHz auction looks further away than ever
3
Appeal for early auction of UK 2.6 GHz centre gap 
5
Dutch pick up the UK's auction baton 


Mobile World Congress 

6
Can femtocells contain the mobile data explosion? 
8
Google boss nearly answers the big question 

9
Increase in base station power limits likely to face opposition 
10
Bahrain plans for spectrum release
11
Neelie Kroes confirmed as Commissioner at second attempt 

Freeing up spectrum in the US

13
FCC plans to free up 500 MHz 
over next decade
14
Who should relinquish spectrum for US recession-busting plan? 
16
A case study of spectrum 
rebanding: the U.S. 800 Mhz band

18-19
Active consultations
20
WRC preparatory talks look 
positive for cognitive proponents 
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Monday, March 01, 2010

A case study of spectrum rebanding: the U.S. 800 Mhz band

OPINION: Lawyer Robert Kelly, who has been involved in the US 800 MHz process from the start, says moving users out of bands can take a long time but the principles can easily be applied elsewhere. 

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