Regional Round-up

Europe

A public presentation of the European Commission study, “Exploiting the Digital Dividend: a European approach”,took place in Brussels on 9th September.  This was the final presentation of the study conducted by Analysys Mason, and was introduced by Pearse O’Donohue of DG Info. Soc, who explained that the findings will feed into “imminent” Commission proposals to address the EU dimension of the digital dividend.

The main conclusion of the report was that there was clear evidence that the sub-band 790-862 MHz should be cleared on an EU-wide basis. A case may also be made for clearing a second sub-band down to 694 MHz (the closest Region 1 TV channel that matches with the US/Region 2). 

O’Donohue stated that the main aim of the study was to try to capture the case for EU-wide action and that the goal is to reach an EU Decision on the 800 MHz band which will ensure that interference is minimised. It seems unlikely that such a Decision would be binding initially but it is possible that this may follow after discussions with the EU Parliament and once the strategic elements of an EU spectrum roadmap have been agreed.

A speech by Åsa Torstensson, Swedish Minister for Communications, before the European Parliament Committee for Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on 2 September 2009, highlighted that radio spectrum and the digital dividend is a key priority for the Swedish Presidency of the EU and stressed the need for harmonisation: “A large number of Member States have already taken national decisions on this important issue; an issue in which international coordination plays a crucial part. If the digital dividend is designed differently in different Member States, we risk missing this unique opportunity.” Referring very positively to the Baltic States Summit (which the GSMA were instrumental in organising) the Minister called upon other regions of Europe to work collaboratively: “This meeting should be seen as a first step in the continued process of developing a common macro-regional position on the digital dividend. I hope that this can serve as a good example for macro-regional co-operation in other parts of Europe. “

Norway
On 12th September the Minister of Transport and Communication in Norway, Liv Signe Navarsete, announced that the digital dividend sub-band 790-862MHz will be allocated to mobile broadband. Provision of mobile broadband, particularly in rural areas, is a key plank of the Norwegian government’s broadband strategy. The spectrum is expected to be auctioned in 2010. With this decision Norway is aligning with its Scandinavian neighbours Sweden, Finland and Denmark, all of which have already allocated 790-862MHz to mobile broadband.

Greece

From 16th-18th September the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and OTE Academy in Athens held a workshop in Athens on “Migration to next generation regulatory environment”. Kristin Due Hauge from the GSMA was a keynote speaker on spectrum issues. Her presentation can be downloaded from the GSMA website. The audience encompassed representatives from SEE Information and Communication Ministries, NRAs, operators and vendors.

Russia

It is understood that discussions in Russia on digital dividend spectrum allocation may see Russian mobile operators VimpelCom, MTS and MegaFon subsidising Russia's transition to digital TV, potentially expediting switchover (currently scheduled for 2015) and freeing up some of the analogue TV frequencies for roll-out of LTE. The topic was discussed at a meeting of the “Telecom and Space” Working Group of the Commission under the President of Russia on 1 September 2009. The Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation confirmed that an approach led by VimpelCom is being received positively and that the Ministry is planning to return to discussion of this topic.  

Asia Pacific

India

The GSMA has submitted a letter to the Indian Joint Task Group (JTG) which is working on the development of a national band plan at 700MHz in India. The letter recommends the use of the 698-808MHz sub-band in alignment with one of the band plans currently proposed in other regions of the world, and confirms that of these the 2x50MHz band plan option is the preferred choice in India. The full text of the letter can be downloaded from the GSMA digital dividend website.

The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) and CMAI jointly held a pivotal seminar on “The Digital Dividend – 700MHz” in Delhi on 4th September. Shri Subodh Kumar, Additional Secretary, DoT, chaired the event, which was attended by many other senior officials including the chair of the JTG, the Chief engineer for National Broadcaster Doordarshan and the General Manager, Planning of state-owned operator BSNL. During the meeting, a united position was given on allocating spectrum which is currently unused as a matter of urgency.  In addition the preference was expressed for FDD/LTE in the band for spectrum efficiency, and the Indian operators expressed their preference for a 2 x 50MHz band plan (noting that other options exist). It was very encouraging to see common   messages on the digital dividend being reinforced by the key advisors to the Indian Government, regulator, broadcaster, operators and manufacturers. Robindhra Mangtani of the GSMA was pleased to be able to attend and present the regulatory and policy perspective on rural broadband and importance of spectrum allocation in the 700Mhz band. His presentation can be downloaded from the website.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Ministry of Economic Development is holding a public consultation “Digital Futures: Planning for Digital Television and New Uses” which closes on 30 September.  The proposals put forward in the consultation are very much in favour of allocating the 700 MHz band for mobile services and align with international developments regarding how to optimise the future use of the band in New Zealand. The GSMA is currently in discussion with the New Zealand operators regarding the submission of a consultation response.

Africa

The ITU preparatory meeting for the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), in collaboration with the African Telecommunication Union, (ATU) took place from 14th-16th September in Geneva. Around 200 participants from six regional telecommunication organizations – APT, ASMG, ATU, CEPT, CITEL and RCC – participated in the meeting, which was part of a series of ongoing international and regional preparatory meetings to allow government and industry to address the complex agenda of WRC-12. The discussions in this meeting addressed all WRC-12 agenda items and identified those deserving special consideration for African countries, including the shared use of the planned digital TV spectrum by other services. 

The GSMA held an evening reception on 15th September for the delegates from African countries and took the opportunity to discuss options for digital dividend allocation in Africa. The event was attended by government representatives from Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Djibouti, Gambia, Egypt, South Africa and Rwanda.

Latin America

Mexico

The Secretariat of Transports and Communications (SCT) of Mexico has begun working on the 700MHz band and the transition to digital TV. In meetings with Sebastian Cabello early in September the SCT confirmed they are aiming to launch a licensing programme for the digital dividend early in 2010 after they finalise the incoming auction of the 30MHz of the PCS band 90MHz of the AWS band. SCT spectrum experts said there are only a few TV stations currently operating in channels 52-69, mainly in Federal District and in the north of the country, therefore, they do not believe it is necessary to wait for analogue switchover to allocate this spectrum.  The  website of the regulator COFETEL provides more information on current TV and the transition to digital channels.

Chile

Local GSM mobile operators Entel PCS, Movistar and Claro have all announced different trials of LTE in the 700MHz band. The three operators have requested the regulator Subtel to license the digital dividend as soon as possible. Subtel is currently studying this request and has stated there are no major barriers to this spectrum allocation apart from waiting to see how other major countries in the world move and what equipment is available to operate in that band. Chile is likely to be the first country in Latin America to license the Digital Dividend for mobile broadband.