UK Spectrum Awards & LTE in UK

Prof. H Nwana, Group Director, Spectrum Policy Group

We aim to award spectrum in a way that

maximises the benefits to UK citizens and consumers

Our aims

• Furthering the interests of citizens

and consumers, where appropriate

by promoting competition

including ensuring:

• the UK has a wide range of

electronic communications services

• the radio spectrum is used in the

most effective way.

• there is a wide range of high-quality

television and radio programmes

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What we are doing

• Auctioning 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz

bands so that citizens and

consumers benefit from:

• Improved coverage

• Healthy competition

• Continued reception of TV

services

• Planning for the future -

considering the possibility of 700

MHz release and its implications

We are preparing for biggest release of mobile

spectrum in a generation…

2

Ensuring widespread availability

Existing 3G coverage Prospective 4G coverage

95%+ 90% - 95% 80% - 90% 60% - 80% <60%

..that can increase mobile broadband coverage…

…and promote competition between operators.

4

We are considering the implications of freeing up more

UHF spectrum at 700 MHz for Mobile Broadband

5

Future 700 MHz

band award?

PM

SE

DTT

Also used by: PMSE / local

TV (from 2013) / white-

space technology (from

2014)

600 MHz

band 800 MHz award

470 MHz 862MHz

DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV)

Also used by: PMSE / local TV (from 2013) / white-space

technology (from 2014)

Cleared by

switch off of

analogue TV

694 MHz 790 MHz

Potential future re-arrangement of DTT

and other uses into 600 MHz band to

free –up 700 MHz band? ?

Cleared by

switch off of

analogue TV

550 MHz 606 MHz

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And… we are also helping LTE and existing TV

services to co-exist

• LTE services in 800 MHz spectrum will operate close in frequency to existing Digital

Terrestrial Television (DTT) . Some peoples’ reception of TV could be affected by this.

• To deal with this, the UK Government has decided to support the effective coexistence

of the two services.

• What actions are being taken?

– A organisation (MitCo) will be set up to provide

support to mitigate DTT interference (led by the

new 800 MHz licensees).

– MitCo will provide support to DTT consumers. DTT

receiver filters will be provided proactively and

reactively to mitigate interference.

– Additional support will be provided to vulnerable

consumers

– A Supervisory Board will be set up to monitor

MitCo’s performance

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...and protecting UK radars from harmful interference.

• Research has showed that use of the 2.6 GHz band spectrum could cause interference

to UK radars in the neighbouring 2.7 GHz band. These radars include the safety critical

component of the UK air traffic control network and those used for military defence.

• What actions are being taken?

– A Government programme (comprising the DCMS, DfT

and the MOD, supported by Ofcom and the CAA), has

been established to assist radar operators in modifying

their radars

– The aim is to complete modifications in areas covering

most of the UK population by the end of 2013, and

across all the UK as soon as possible thereafter.

– Ofcom will put in place technical licence conditions for

the 2.6 GHz band (for inclusion in the 2.6 GHz licences),

which will include co-ordination procedures to protect

radars before and after modification.

Award of 800 MHz & 2.6 GHz: Jan consultation proposals

• Reserve some of the available spectrum for a fourth national wholesaler (someone other

than EE, Telefonica or Vodafone)

• Reserve 2x10MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum to be used on a shared low power basis by up to

10 licensees

• Safeguard spectrum caps:

– 2x27.5MHz in total of 800MHz and 900MHz spectrum (approx 42% of total)

– 2x105MHz in total of 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2.1GHz and 2.6GHz spectrum

(approx 36% of total)

• Coverage obligation on one 800MHz licensee to provide a 2Mbps mobile data service by

the end of 2017 that either:

• covers 98% of the UK population; or

• has coverage comparable to today’s 2G coverage plus the 2G coverage resulting

from the Government’s investment of £150m in mobile infrastructure (MIP), to the

extent that that infrastructure can accommodate 4G equipment

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-

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

PB

/mo

nth

Cisco

rW high

PA High

rW mid

PA Mid

rW low

PA Low

Spectrum is one enabler of longer term growth

Real Wireless

medium demand

scenario:

80x traffic growth

from 2012 to

2030

Total

mobile network

capacity = x

More efficient technology ‘More bits per MHz’

X 3 to 10 increase Estimated increase

from techniques

supported by LTE

advanced

More Spectrum ‘More MHz’

X 7 to 13 increase In total amount of

additional harmonised

mobile broadband

spectrum

More sites ‘Smaller number of

users share the capacity

of each site’

10 - 30% increase in macro

sites and much larger

increases in small cells Practical constraints and cost

implications are likely to make this

the least favoured option for mobile

operators

x

Offloading Reduces data carried

on mobile network core

Almost half of the data

generated by

mobile devices is

routed through

fixed networks

Next steps (and LTE in the UK)

• Liberalisation of 1800 MHz spectrum for LTE

• MOD Plan to Release 2.4 GHz (40MHz) and then 3.6Ghz (>100MHz)

• 800 MHz & 2.6 GHz auction

– Statement planned for July 2012

– Applications before Xmas

– Bidding starts in the New Year

– Spectrum becomes available during 2013

• UHF strategy (inc 700 MHz band)

– Consultation closes 7 June 2012

– Statement on long term strategy in Autumn

• Clearances of Channel 61/62 and 69 progressing vey well

• Remediation of UK Radar fleet too & Set up of MitCo

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Annex

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MitCo implementation

• Final decisions on high level MitCo design and implementation will be taken in the

Summer. The high-level proposals for MitCo implementation as set out in our second

consultation in February 2012 are as follows:

– Much of the preparatory work for MitCo is likely to take place in advance of the

auction of the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum. The new 800 MHz licensees will then

take over ownership and collective responsibility for MitCo following the award of

licences.

– MitCo will be subject to a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to manage its

performance and to protect DTT consumers. Failure to meet the KPIs will result in the

800 MHz licensees being subject to operational conditions.

– A Supervisory Board will be established, with representation from the range of

stakeholders with an interest in DTT coexistence, including new licensees,

broadcasters and consumer groups.

– The Supervisory Board will monitor and assess MitCo’s performance against the

KPIs, and make recommendations to Ofcom or Government where it believes

remedial or enforcement action is necessary.

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