spectrum policies for mobile broadband development

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Spectrum Policies for mobile broadband development

Carolina Limbatto, Cullen International

Citel-Osiptel Workshop on Digital Inclusion and Meaningful Broadband Adoption in the Americas

April 17, 2017Lima, Peru

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Mobile broadband connectivityMore spectrum, harmonised spectrum

Mobile communications are an essential service withincreasing applications and solutions supported bymobile networks:• Wireless access to networks depends on access to radio

spectrum.• A harmonised spectrum allocation may help to boost mobile

broadband deployment and use.

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Spectrum for mobile broadbandStatus in the Americas

• Spectrum allocated and assigned to mobile services

• LTE offers• Digital dividend (1st and 2nd)• Spectrum awards in progress• Importance of coverage and social

obligations

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Spectrum assignment in LTE bandsMost countries auctioned AWS or 700 MHz

* Brazil: only national licences** United States: Licences from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. 700 MHz spectrum band includes 6 MHz of unpaired spectrum

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LTE Commercial offers in Latam1800/1900 MHz also for 4G

AWS and/or 700 MHz

Also 1800/1900 MHz

Also 2.5/2.6 GHz

• Movistar in 1900MHz• AT&T and Telcel in AWS• Altan in 700 MHz

ICE in 2.5GHzOthers in 1800 MHz

AWS and 2.5 GHz

• 1900 MHz Personal• 700 MHz: Copaco• AWS: all operators but

Personal• Incumbents: 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz• WOM: AWS

700 MHz, 2.6 GHz and 450 MHz

• CNT in 700 MHz and AWS• Claro in AWS• Movistar in 1900 MHz

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Analog switch offAvoid interference, more spectrum available

• No need to wait until analog switch off to assign Digital Dividend

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2025

Mexico

Costa Rica

Brazil

Ecuador

Colombia

Argentina

Chile

Paraguay

Peru

2009 2012

CanadaUnited States

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Second digital dividend600 MHz in the Americas

Clock phase incentive auction to award 84 MHz in 600 MHz finished in Feb. 2017

Industry Canada announced that CA will also plan a incentive auction to migrate

broadcasters from 600 MHz

IFT stated that 600 MHz will be freed for mobile broadband

Enacom mandate migration of broadcasters in 600 MHz to 12.2-12.7 GHz within 4 years

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Mobile broadband coverage

Coverage obligations

No coverage obligations700 MHz:• 92.2% pop. by Jan.

2022, • 30% pop. by March 31,

2018

Main roads

450 MHz:• Rural coverage

obligations, • coverage can be

provided by use of any spectrum

2.5GHz:• coverage obligations in

cities with more than 30,000 by Dec. 2017

Incumbents:2.6 GHz: 543 rural localities to be covered (181 for each MNO)700 MHz: 1,281 rural localities and 13 routes (854km)

AWS: 30 towns with low population within 30 months from spectrum assignment (Feb. 12, 2016).

700 MHz and AWS:• towns and cities with over 500 population • a 20 km radius from routes and roads

Obligations set in spectrum auctions

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Spectrum harmonisationStatus in the Americas

• Benefits of spectrum allocation• Spectrum bands used in the Americas• The way forward

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Economies of scale• Lower de cost to produce handsets and mobile

infrastructure equipment• Incentives competition and innovation between vendors

Interoperability and service portability• International roaming, with the same handset a quality

of service (i.e. access to mobile broadband)

Cross-border interference•Avoids services interferences in cross-border area

Spectrum harmonisationBenefits

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Mobile service in LatamSpectrum bands used

References: * uses LTE technology; 5regional and local licences awarded

Country

Spectrum Band

700MHz

850MHz

900MHz

900-1700MHz

1700-2100MHz

1800MHz

1900MHz

1900-2100MHz

2.1GHz

2.5/2.6GHz

Argentina P* P5 O O P* O P5 O O O

Brazil P* P5 P5 P5

O P5 O P5 O P5*

Chile P* P5 O O P* O P O O P*

Colombia O P5 O O P* O P O O P*

Costa Rica O P O O O P* O O P P*

Ecuador P* P O O P* O P* O O OMexico P* P5 O O P* O P5* O O O

Peru P* P5 P5 O P* O P5* O O P

Paraguay P P5 P O P* O P* O O P

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The way forward on spectrum harmonisation

12

A wider harmonisation could boost American mobile market by reducing costs and increasing innovation

Changing current and historic allocation could be costly and not aligned with national spectrum plans and strategies

The Americas have a an opportunity of a more harmonised approach for new mobile technologies, experience in 700 MHz and AWS

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SummarySpectrum for mobile broadband

• There were several spectrum awards in the Americas, still below ITU’s recommendations

• Operators are using several LTE bands to provide mobile broadband

• More spectrum: 1st and 2nd digital dividend• Benefits of spectrum harmonisation for new

mobile broadband technologies

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