Spectrum “scams” alleged to have cost India billions of dollars

Ask the average citizen – or politician for that matter – in most countries what they understand by radio spectrum and the chances are you either won't get an answer or it will be the wrong one. Not so in India, however, where allegedly massive scams involving the allocation of spectrum have put the topic on the front pages for several weeks and shaken the government to its core.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/spectrum-201cscams201d-alleged-to-have-cost-india-billions-of-dollars

Telstra joins the rapidly-growing LTE 1800 party

Australian incumbent Telstra will this year become the first major mobile operator to roll out LTE in the 1800 MHz band, which is looking increasingly likely to become not just a European but a global LTE band. 

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/telstra-joins-the-rapidly-growing-lte-1800-party

RSPG considers policy implications of cognitive technologies

Rollout of cognitive radio applications could be left to individual countries but research and standards should be coordinated at European level, the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) said in a 10 February opinion addressing the possible spectrum policy implications arising from cognitive technologies. The report drew mixed reactions from broadcasters and from advocates of using white space.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/rspg-considers-spectrum-policy-implications-of-cognitive-technologies

PMSE sector disappointed by Ofcom stance on 2010 MHz band

While a decision by Ofcom to allow the programme making and special events (PMSE) sector to use the 2010 to 2025 MHz band up to and during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been welcomed, the regulator's proposal that the band then be auctioned off has been met with dismay. 

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/pmse-sector-disappointed-by-ofcom-statement-on-2010-mhz-band

RSPG wants common EU spectrum policy goals for WRC-12

Europe must set common spectrum policy goals and priorities as early as possible in order to have a stronger voice at the 2012 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-12), the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) said this month. Among its top recommendations is keeping the digital dividend 800 MHz band clear for rollout of non-broadcasting services.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/rspg-wants-common-european-spectrum-policy-goals-for-wrc-12

Syria sets reserve price for third mobile licence

Syria has set a reserve price of €90 million for the mobile licence it expects to auction later this year. 

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/syria-sets-reserve-price-for-third-mobile-licence

Ministers and the relevant departments will decide what public sector spectrum to release, says UK communications minister

When the Coalition government took office in the UK last May and Ed Vaizey was appointed communications minister, PolicyTracker was quickly on the phone to his office requesting an interview on the government's spectrum policies – assuming it had any. He is still too busy to talk to us in person, but did agree to respond in writing to some of our questions. 

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/ministers-and-the-relevant-departments-will-decide-on-the-bands-to-release

Costa Rican mobile monopoly comes to an end

This year Costa Rica will become one of the last countries in Latin America to open its telecoms market to foreign competition. Two of the region's largest mobile operators have been awarded licences. 

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/costa-rican-mobile-monopoly-comes-to-an-end

Brussels urged to create European wireless broadband area

The European Commission continues to search for a solution to the soaring voice and data roaming fees that continue to plague mobile phone users. One idea is for a pan-European wireless broadband area that relies on spectrum white spaces and sharing.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/commission-urged-to-create-european-wireless-broadband-area

Obama's wireless plan draws mixed reaction

US president Barack Obama hopes to raise nearly $28 million through spectrum incentive auctions and to spend $3 billion of it on research and development of emerging wireless technologies and applications. But will his plan to give 98 per cent of Americans 4G high-speed wireless access within five years succeed?

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/obamas-wireless-plan-draws-mixed-reaction

Up to three new mobile licences to be issued in Turkmenistan

In a move that suggests Turkmenistan could get up to three new mobile operators, the country's president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has said local firms and state-owned operator Altyn Asyr should form joint ventures with "leading communications companies worldwide".

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/up-to-three-new-mobile-licences-to-be-issued-in-turkmenistan

Waiver makes new LTE network more feasible

A waiver from US regulator the FCC makes LightSquared's planned national LTE network more financially feasible as consumers will no longer need to connect via dual satellite/terrestrial devices.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/waiver-makes-new-lte-network-more-feasible

US regulator appoints white space database administrators

Commercial use of the broadcasting white spaces has come a step closer in the US with the telecoms regulator provisionally appointing nine companies as device database administrators.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/us-regulator-appoints-white-space-database-administrators

Europe's spectrum debate continues at ITRE hearing

Europe's telecoms market has reached a "make or break" point and will lag behind if policymakers do not liberalise as much spectrum as is needed, MEP Gunnar Hökmark said at a 1 February public hearing hosted by the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/speakers-debate-spectrum-at-itre-hearing

Ofcom to allow spectrum trading at 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz

Following the UK government's recent Direction on spectrum policy, Ofcom is consulting stakeholders in what appears to be a formality before introducing new rules to allow trading of the three currently-licensed mobile bands and changes to be made to existing 3G licences.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/ofcom-to-allow-spectrum-trading-at-900-1800-and-2100-mhz

What next for mobile TV?

Having sold off the US spectrum it used for mobile broadcasting service FLO TV, wireless technology company Qualcomm is now urging European regulators to harmonise the 1452 - 1479.5 MHz L-band for supplemental mobile downlink. Where does this leave mobile TV?

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/what-next-for-qualcomms-l-band-spectrum

February 2011 PDF edition

The growing impact of TD-LTE on spectrum policy is our top story this month. What was once a Chinese initiative is now making its influence felt around the world, but it looks set to be deployed as a complement rather than as a competitor to its FDD stablemate.

Download the February issue of PolicyTracker here:

https://www.policytracker.com/Back issues/PT-Feb-11.pdf

The Middle East Spectrum Conference

29-30 March 2011, Dubai

Download the brochure:

https://www.policytracker.com/ME2_brochure

Includes programme of training courses:

https://www.policytracker.com/ME2_training_brochure

Understanding Modern Spectrum Management

March 21-25 2011, Merton College, Oxford, UK

Download the brochure:

https://www.policytracker.com/UMSM_current_brochure 

TD-LTE expected to co-exist comfortably with FD-LTE

Although the Chinese backers of the TD-LTE standard predict its main future lies in the developing world, some in the telecoms industry think it also has a bright future in the developed world - alongside the FD-LTE which many MNOs are already committed to.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/td-lte-expected-to-co-exist-comfortably-with-fd-lte