New policies to bring Indian telecoms into the 21st century

With India's spectrum scandals accentuating the problems of its much-criticised system for allocating 2G spectrum, the government is trying to draw a line in the sand with a set of new policies aimed at producing a market-driven, transparent telecoms sector.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/new-policies-to-bring-indian-telecoms-into-the-21st-century

FCC seeks to improve wireless access for Native Americans

Citing an "alarming lack" of telecoms services on American Indian tribal lands, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking ways to make more spectrum available for wireless uses.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/fcc-seeks-to-improve-wireless-access-for-native-americans

Romania urged to relaunch digital switchover

A Romanian electronics industry association has written to the government to urge it to restart the country's stalled digital switchover process.

The Association for Digital Communication (ADC) made the call in an open letter addressed to Romania's authorities. The letter was also signed by a number of companies and individuals from Romania's telecoms and TV sectors. It calls on the government to:

    * develop and finalise a new digital switchover strategy, with an analogue switch-off (ASO) date of 2013, by the end of March 2011 

    * ensure the digital multiplexes are awarded via a competitive and transparent process 

    * start the public debate about how the digital dividend should be used

In August 2010, the Romanian government postponed ASO to 2015, arguing that this would give viewers more time to buy reception equipment and "ensure a reasonable time in which operators, equipment manufacturers and sellers of technology adapt their behaviour to new requirements".

The decision was made without consulting the regulator, Ancom, even though it had already issued tenders for two digital terrestrial television (DTT) multiplexes and seven Romanian and foreign companies had registered their interest. The tender process was subsequently cancelled.•

Read this article on the PolicyTracker website:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/romania-urged-to-relaunch-digital-switchover

Swedish 800 MHz auction gets under way

Sweden's auction to assign licences for the use of spectrum in the 800 MHz band started on 28 February.

The licences are technology and service neutral. Six licences (2 × 5 MHz each) will be included in the auction and no company will be able to acquire more than two licences (2 × 10 MHz).

At the end of each day, but at 5pm at the earliest, Swedish regulator PTS will publish information on its website about how many bidding rounds have been finished, and the sum for the standing high bids in each bidding round. PTS estimates that the auction will take approximately two to ten working days.

To view the latest information on the auction, click here.•

Belgium to hold 3G and 4G auctions this year

3G and 4G licences will be auctioned in Belgium in June 2011 and autumn 2011 respectively, according to the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunication (BIPT). 

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/belgium-to-hold-3g-and-4g-auctions-later-this-year

March 2011 PDF edition

Reaction to President's Obama's plan to give 4G speeds to 98% of Americans is our lead article this month.  We also consider the latest views of EU regulators on the next World Radio Conference and cognitive radio as well as reporting on industry dissatisfaction with digital switchover policies in Romania.

Download the March issue of PolicyTracker here:

https://www.policytracker.com/Back issues/PT-Mar-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

Mobile needs take centre stage at WRC-12 preparatory meeting

Mobile spectrum needs were raised by administrations and commercial interests during a two-week WRC-12 preparatory meeting in a bid to spur proposals to include the issue on the agenda of the 2015 conference.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/mobile-needs-take-centre-stage-during-two-week-wrc-12-preparatory-meeting