Browse resources by topic, technology or resource type.

Digital Dividend Q&A: Shaping International Spectrum Policy
April 29, 2013 The UAE’s foremost authority on spectrum management, Tariq Al Awadhi is a prominent figure in international spectrum planning and negotiation. Al Awadhi played a pivotal role in international spectrum management as chair of the World Radiocommunication ...
GSMA Public Policy Position on TV White Space
April 11, 2013 Television broadcasting typically leaves some UHF frequencies idle at certain locations. Known as ‘white spaces’, these broadcasting gaps are increasingly being considered for alternative uses. In addition to issues of technical feasibility, use of TV...
GSMA Public Policy Position on Spectrum Licensing
April 11, 2013 The environment for spectrum licensing is increasingly complex. Effective and efficient management of this complex environment is critical to ensure continued investment in, and development of, mobile services. This GSMA position paper touches on the ke...
GSMA Public Policy Position on Spectrum Auctions
April 11, 2013 The environment for spectrum auctions is increasingly complex as governments release new allocations of spectrum in existing mobile bands; manage the renewal of licences coming to the end of their initial term; and release new spectrum in new bands for mo...
GSMA Public Policy Position on Licensed Shared Access (LSA) and Authorised Shared Access (ASA)
April 11, 2013 Licensed Shared Access (LSA) and Authorised Shared Access (ASA) are concepts that allow spectrum that has been licensed for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) to be used by more than one entity. This GSMA position paper considers the implicatio...
GSMA Public Policy Position on the Preferred Band Plan for Digital Dividend 2 in ITU Region 1
April 11, 2013 This position paper sets out the preferred band plan for the 700MHz frequency band in Europe (including Russia), the Middle East and Africa. Download position paper...
Content or Technology: What Are the Trends Driving Data Demand?
March 27, 2013 Mobile is at the heart of a multi-million dollar industry that supports a wider ecosystem than we ever imagined just a few years ago. So what kinds of trends are behind this figure, who is involved and what is necessary to keep this engine running? Thi...
Practical Recommendations for Digital Switch-Over (Eng, Fr, Sp)
February 25, 2013 Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) provides a more flexible and efficient technical platform for broadcasters to deliver both SD and HD programming. It can also provide wider consumer choice through more broadcast television channels, multimedia, radio ...
Arab States Mobile Observatory 2013
February 23, 2013 Mobile penetration has increased greatly over the past few years and now reaches well above 100% in many countries of the Arab States. The telecommunications sector has been partially liberalised and competition has increased service affordability. This h...
Spectrum Bandwidth Requirement for IMT Services in China by 2020
February 6, 2013 In recent years, China has experienced extraordinary data traffic expansion, which has resulted in increasingly high requirement for radio frequency spectrum with China facing a potential spectrum shortfall by 2016. CATR’s report estimates the future sp...
Digital Dividend Q&A: National Spectrum Planning with a Global Outlook
January 31, 2013 Australia was the first country, in June 2010, to announce that it would allocate its Digital Dividend to the mobile sector, and Australia has been an influential advocate for releasing harmonised spectrum for mobile telecommunications ever since. GSMA sp...
The Socio-economic Impact of Allocating Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Services in China
January 30, 2013 To determine the distribution of spectrum, CATR has compiled research into the social and economic impact of the use of spectrum by different services including IMT mobile services, broadcast and aviation etc. This report highlights the value of spectrum ...
Digital Dividend Q&A: Striving for Mobile Leadership in Latin America
December 18, 2012 An interview with Juan Manuel Wilches Duran, Deputy Director of Spectrum Management and Planning at Colombia’s National Spectrum Agency (ANE) This is one of a series of interviews conducted by the GSM Association that aims to capture the experiences, i...
Digital Dividend in Southeast Europe
November 30, 2012 GSMA-commissioned report looking at the progress Southeast Europe has made in the analogue switchover to digital terrestrial broadcast. Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey and Greece are examined in detail.
Sub-Saharan Africa Mobile Observatory 2012
November 21, 2012 The mobile industry is driving explosive economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the fastest growing mobile market in the world. Prepared by Deloitte for the GSMA, this mobile observatory presents the latest statistics and market developments in ...
Brazil Mobile Observatory 2012
September 28, 2012 The first of the Mobile Observatory series of reports to focus on Brazil offers the GSMA’s view into the explosive growth of the sector and the range of services it enables for its citizens. Brazil is the fourth largest mobile market in the world and hi...
Digital Dividend Q&A: Towards Broadband Access for All
September 1, 2012 An interview with Suvi Lindén, former Minister of the Government of Finland and Special Envoy to the Broadband Commission. This is one of a series of interviews conducted by the GSM Association that aims to capture the experiences, insights and advice...
Digital Dividend Toolkit
August 1, 2012 The GSMA’s Digital Dividend Toolkit is a rich online resource providing one-stop access to the latest policies and perspectives on the Digital Dividend, highlighting areas of best practice. Go to the Digital Dividend Toolkit...
GSMA suggested suitable frequency bands
July 13, 2012 At WRC-12, a new agenda item for WRC-15 was agreed on IMT, namely: “1.1 to consider additional spectrum allocations to the mobile service on a primary basis and identification of additional frequency bands for IMT and related regulatory provisions, to f...
Infographic: Asia Pacific can unlock US$1 trillion in GDP through spectrum harmonisation for mobile broadband
July 9, 2012 A graphical look at the impact of regionally harmonised 'digital dividend' spectrum for mobile. Download...
Digital dividend in Serbia – Volume 2: Other country summaries
June 23, 2012 Download...
Licensing to support the mobile broadband revolution
May 22, 2012 GSMA-commissioned report that takes an in-depth look at spectrum licensing best practices and real-world case studies. Summary Licensing Best Practices Full Report ...
The Economic Benefits of Early Harmonisation of the Digital Dividend Spectrum and the Cost of Fragmentation in Asia
May 9, 2012 In 2010, GSMA and The Boston Consulting Group released a report on the social and economic benefits of allocating the 700 MHz band to mobile broadband in the Asia-Pacific region. Based on a rigorous and conservative proprietary methodology, we identified ...
The socio-economic benefit of allocating harmonised spectrum in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
April 30, 2012 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) would receive considerable socio-economic benefits from the release of harmonised spectrum in the 700/800 and 2.6 GHz bands for use by mobile operators to deliver next-generation mobile broadband services. In particula...
Radio Spectrum
April 24, 2012 A visual introduction to radio spectrum and its uses. ...
GSMA Spectrum Handbook
February 25, 2012 This handbook gives a nontechnical introduction to radio spectrum and the issues surrounding spectrum management, for people who don’t have a technical background in the subject. While there is far more to know about spectrum than is contained in these ...
HSPA and LTE enhancements to utilise spectrum efficiently
February 17, 2012 The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of current efforts to enhance the performance and efficiency of mobile broadband technologies. In so doing, spectrum resources can be utilized as intensively as possible to expand mobile network capacity...
Video: Spectrum Is Everybody’s Business
February 1, 2012 A graphical introduction to radio spectrum, and why it matters for connected living. ...
Video: Gazing Into the Future of Mobile
February 1, 2012 This animated video shares what we know about the rising demand for mobile services. ...
Collecting Revenue from Spectrum
February 1, 2012 Spectrum has a substantial economic value. Telecommunications services derived from spectrum are purchased not just directly by customers, but also form a key input into nearly every sector of a modern economy. This report by DotEcon explores the balance ...
Latin American Mobile Observatory 2011
January 1, 2012 This is the first Latin American edition of the GSMA Mobile Observatory and provides a comprehensive review of the LatAm mobile communications industry. This Observatory collates the latest statistics and market developments, providing a reference point f...
Digital Dividend
December 17, 2011 Understanding what the 'Digital Dividend' for mobile broadband is all about... ...
The benefits of releasing spectrum for mobile broadband in Sub-Saharan Africa
December 1, 2011 Mobile broadband has the potential to strengthen economic growth and social development in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). But demand will be limited by the current supply of spectrum for mobile use. This research, commissioned by GSMA and conducted by Plum Con...
African Mobile Observatory 2011
December 1, 2011 This is the first African edition in the GSMA Mobile Observatory series. This observatory provides a comprehensive review of the African mobile communications industry. Included are the latest statistics and market developments, as a reference point for m...
900 MHz and 1800 MHz band refarming case study — France
November 30, 2011 This study presents the experience of France in refarming its 900 MHz and 1800 MHz mobile spectrum bands. Download...
1800 MHz band refarming case study — Sweden
November 29, 2011 Case study detailing the process of refarming the 1800 MHz frequency band for mobile in Sweden. Download case study...
900 MHz band refarming case study — Sweden
November 27, 2011 Case study detailing the process of refarming the 900 MHz frequency band for mobile in Sweden. Download...
900 MHz and 1800 MHz band refarming case study — Denmark
November 24, 2011 This case study presents the Danish experience in refarming the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands. Download...
El Impacto de la Tributación en el Desarrollo
November 22, 2011 La finalidad del presente estudio es evaluar el impacto de la tributación fiscal en el desarrollo del sector de la banda ancha móvil en los países emergentes. Se basa en estudios de caso de cinco países, cuatro de los cuales han promulgado regímenes ...
Award of the 700/800 MHz band: Australia
November 11, 2011 This is one of a series of case studies on approaches to awarding the 700MHz/800MHz band for mobile broadband. The countries in this series are Australia, Finland, Germany, Mexico and the UK. Download...
Award of the 700/800 MHz band: Finland
November 11, 2011 This is one of a series of case studies on approaches to awarding the 700MHz/800MHz band for mobile broadband. The countries in this series are Australia, Finland, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Download...
Award of the 700/800 MHz band: Germany
November 11, 2011 This is one of a series of case studies on approaches to awarding the 700MHz/800MHz band for mobile broadband. The countries in this series are Australia, Finland, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Download...
Award of the 700/800 MHz band: Mexico
November 11, 2011 This is one of a series of case studies on approaches to awarding the 700MHz/800MHz band for mobile broadband. The countries in this series are Australia, Finland, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Download...
Award of the 700/800 MHz band: UK
November 11, 2011 This is one of a series of case studies on approaches to awarding the 700MHz/800MHz band for mobile broadband. The countries in this series are Australia, Finland, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Download...
Public Policy Position on Spectrum Trading
November 1, 2011 Spectrum trading is the ability of operators to voluntarily trade their spectrum asset. Where there is no compelling reason to restrict such trading, governments should have an appropriate regulatory framework to facilitate commercially based spectrum tra...
Public Policy Position on Spectrum Sharing and Infrastructure Sharing
November 1, 2011 Spectrum sharing and infrastructure sharing are commercially based agreements between operators to share assets to best provide service and coverage to society and consumers. Governments should have an appropriate regulatory framework to facilitate volunt...
Public Policy Position on Renewal of Spectrum Usage Rights
November 1, 2011 Operating mobile networks and providing services to consumers requires long-term investment and access to mobile frequency bands. Having a publicly available regulatory framework based on the principles of transparency and predictability for renewal of sp...
Public Policy Position on Change of Use of Spectrum
November 1, 2011 Governments should allow the change of use of technologies within mobile bands, taking a technology-neutral stance that facilitates mobile technology upgrades and mobile service innovation. Download position paper...
European Mobile Observatory 2011
November 1, 2011 The European Mobile Observatory was first published in 2008, and later in 2009, as a comprehensive review of the European mobile communications industry. This 2011 report updates the Observatory with the latest statistics and market developments, providin...
Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory 2011
November 1, 2011 The 2011 Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory updates and expands on the first Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory carried out in 2009. With new data, analysis and insight it provides a comprehensive reference point for participants in the mobile industry, policy ...
Briefing paper on WRC Agenda Item 1.17 — broadcast interference
July 22, 2011 Industry position on WRC Agenda Item 1.17 on broadcast interference. Download here...
Briefing paper on WRC Agenda Item 8.2 — Spectrum for IMT
July 22, 2011 WRC briefing paper: Mobile industry position on spectrum for IMT Download here...
Impact of Wireless Broadband Penetration on the Taiwanese Economy
July 13, 2011 Analysys Mason has prepared this report for GSMA to assess the direct and indirect economic impact of wireless broadband in Taiwan. View Whitepaper - TW Download here...
Nigeria - Economic impact of wireless broadband
July 7, 2011 Analysys Mason has prepared this report for GSMA to assess the direct and indirect economic impact of wireless broadband in Nigeria. The content of this report is based entirely on the sources and data presented in an earlier report by Analysys Mason. ...
The Benefit of Self-Optimising Networks in LTE
July 1, 2011 This whitepaper highlights the effect and value that Self-organising networks can have in light of recent deployments in LTE technology to address the growing data capacity crunch. Download here...
Taiwan - Economic impact of wireless broadband
July 1, 2011 Analysys Mason has prepared this report for GSMA to assess the direct and indirect economic impact of wireless broadband in Taiwan. The content of this report is based entirely on the sources and data presented in an earlier report by Analysys Mason. ...
TD-LTE: gearing up to cover 2.7bn people in Asia by 2013
June 30, 2011 In this report, Goldman Sachs have gathered recent developments of TD-LTE among Asia carriers and global technology companies. The success of the FDD-LTE launch by Verizon in the US should accelerate further the conversion from WiMAX to TD-LTE over the la...
Global mobile network traffic – a summary of recent trends, June 2011
June 29, 2011 Analysys Mason research on mobile network traffic trends, and consideration of future spectrum needs. Download here...
LTE 1800MHz Terminal whitepaper
May 5, 2011 Whitepaper exploring the use of 1800MHz terminals for LTE, the range that is seen as the most beneficial frequency with which to initially launch LTE networks. Download here...
Impact of mobile broadband on education and healthcare sectors in India
May 1, 2011 Research from Analysys Mason assessing the impact of mobile broadband on health and education in India....
ZTE’s Solution for LTE in the 1800MHz Ban
April 11, 2011 Much of the initial focus in LTE development has been in the use of newly allocated frequency bands and has overlooked the importance of reusing existing spectrum. The 1800MHz band, which is widely used today for GSM, is becoming a key band for LTE deploy...
LTE 1800MHz Ecosystem Drivers
March 27, 2011 This paper explores the reasons behind the belief that refarming 1800MHz for LTE is the most feasible and cost efficient way for mobile network operators to provide high speed data services and allows early market entry. Download here...
Re-farming 1800MHz spectrum for mobile broadband
March 22, 2011 Report outlining the advantages that the 1800MHz band has for use by mobile broadband radio technologies. Its broad global deployment means it provides a good complement for LTE in other bands, for example. It also offers typically 2 x 75MHz spectrum band...
Mobile broadband in 1800MHz spectrum
March 1, 2011 White paper that identifies how refarming 1800MHz spectrum for use by Mobile Broadband radio technologies, including LTE and HSPA, mobile operators can gain the additional capacity, higher performance, global accessibility and economies of scale that will...
Mobile Broadband in the 1800MHz Band
March 1, 2011 This paper explores the potential to use the 1800MHz spectrum band to help meet rising demand for Mobile Broadband services. It is based on the presentations and subsequent discussion at the 1800MHz HSPA/LTE Workshop hosted by the GSMA and the Global mobi...
Sustaining the Mobile Miracle
March 1, 2011 A 4G Americas Blueprint for Securing Mobile Broadband Spectrum in this Decade. Download here...
Economic impact of wireless broadband in Nigeria
February 22, 2011 Analysys Mason has prepared this report for GSMA to assess the direct and indirect economic impact of wireless broadband in Nigeria. Download here...
GSMA Response to Bangladesh 2G Consultation, Feb11
February 8, 2011 GSMA response to draft regulatory and licensing guidelines for issuing renewal licenses to existing mobile licensees. Download here...
4G Mobile Broadband Evolution
February 1, 2011 4G Mobile Broadband Evolution: 3GPP Release 10 and Beyond - HSPA+, SAE/LTE and LTE-Advanced, provides detailed discussions of Rel-10 including the significant new technology enhancements to LTE/EPC (called LTE-Advanced) that were determined in October 201...
Economic Benefits of the Digital Dividend for Latin America
January 24, 2011 This study provides decision makers in Latin American countries with a quantitative and qualitative estimation of the social and economic benefits of a prospective allocation of the Digital Dividend spectrum for the provision of mobile broadband services....
GSMA Response to ECC PT1 Mobile Broadband questionnaire. January 2011
January 13, 2011 Download here...
LTE1800: Sierra Wireless Whitepaper
January 1, 2011 A Versatile Platform for Connected Devices and Applications: This paper examines the growing industry adoption of LTE and LTE1800, and the reasons for this growth. It discusses the unique requirements of LTE1800 and how device manufacturers and applicatio...
The momentum behind LTE worldwide
January 1, 2011 The report focuses on the data surge that will happen between now and 2015 where AM predicts that 90% of traffic on networks will be data. With the right approach and strategy, operators are likely to benefit from a sound LTE business case. Utilising the ...
Spectrum for Mobile Broadband in the Americas
January 1, 2011 This report outlines the issue of the daunting challenge that operators, public policy makers and regulators in the Americas will confront a daunting challenge during the next decade. The development of mobile broadband services will be severely inhibited...
GSMA Position Paper for Asia Pacific on Harmonised Digital Dividend/UHF band plans
January 1, 2011 Download here...
Introducing LTE with maximum reuse of GSM asset
January 1, 2011 The introduction of LTE is driven by the need to deliver faster mobile broadband services than GSM and WCDMA networks. This white paper introduces technology solutions for LTE1800 MHz, including information on 1800 MHz spectrum deployment options and Noki...
India Wireless Broadband Economic Impact
December 1, 2010 Executive Summary - Analysys Mason has prepared this report for GSMA to review the status of the broadband market and assess the direct and indirect economic impact of wireless broadband in India. Recent econometric studies have quantified the direct impa...
The Digital Dividend: How to Deliver Broadband for All
November 24, 2010 Download here...
Datasheet: The Digital Dividend in Europe
November 24, 2010 Mobile is the most ubiquitous, connected, personalised communications platform in Europe, surpassing 124% penetration in 2009. Mobile services are now being used across all age groups and socio-economic segments of the population, with 83% of EU household...
Datasheet: The Digital Dividend in Africa
November 24, 2010 Mobile technology is revolutionising the lives of millions of people in Africa and will continue to be the primary means for the great majority to access voice, data and internet-based services. Mobile broadband has the potential to improve access to heal...
Datasheet: The Digital Dividend in Asia Pacific
November 24, 2010 Asia Pacific is the world’s largest mobile market. Since 2003, it has more than tripled in size and added over a billion connections. Over the next five years, an additional one billion connections are expected to be added, with the Asia Pacific market ...
Datasheet: The Digital Dividend in Latin America
November 24, 2010 Latin America has witnessed rapid take-up of mobile broadband and now has more than 50 commercial HSPA networks in more than 20 countries, delivering services to over 7 million subscribers. As the demand for affordable broadband services and internet conn...
Digital Dividend for mobile: Bringing broadband to all - Portuguese
November 24, 2010 Download here...
Digital Dividend for mobile: Bringing broadband to all - English
November 24, 2010 Download here...
Digital Dividend for mobile: Bringing broadband to all - Russian
November 24, 2010 Download here...
Digital Dividend for mobile: Bringing broadband to all - Spanish
November 24, 2010 Download here...
MIMO in HSPA: the Real-World Impact
November 22, 2010 This paper is designed to provide a neutral and balanced view of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology and its role in the evolution of mobile networks, while exploring concerns raised by some industry players and telecoms operators about the u...
South Africa Wireless Broadband Economic Impact
November 1, 2010 Analysys Mason has prepared this report for GSMA to review the status of the broadband market and assess the direct and indirect economic impact of wireless broadband in South Africa. Recent econometric studies have quantified the direct impact on product...
Socio-economic impact of allocating 700 MHz band to mobile in Asia Pacific
October 1, 2010 The GSMA appointed The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to undertake a rigorous analysis of the social and economic benefits of allocating the 700 MHz band to mobile broadband, relative to its likely alternative, digital broadcasting. This study uses a propr...
Position paper for Africa on Digital Dividend.UHF band plans. October 2010
October 1, 2010 Download here...
Socio-economic impact of allocating 700 MHz band to mobile in Asia Pacific
October 1, 2010 Download here...
FCC technical and economic forecast of mobile broadband market trends - October 2010
October 1, 2010 Download here...
GSMA Response to Ofcom Traffic Management & 'net neutrality' - A Discussion Document
September 7, 2010 Download here...
GSMA Response to the consultation on frequency plans in Poland in the 470 – 862 MHz band
September 1, 2010 Download here...
Traffic Management Techniques for Mobile Broadband
August 1, 2010 This white paper in order to highlights the importance of network management – and in particular traffic management or how network operators handle variable packet flows – for ensuring high quality services to consumers and overall network reliability...
GSMA Response to TRAI Consultation in National Broadband Plan in India
July 15, 2010 Download here...
GSMA input to the consultation on future use of the 800MHz band in Denmark
June 24, 2010 Download here...
Benefits of the Digital Dividend: Spectrum in Russia, 24 June 2010
June 24, 2010 Download here...
Digital Dividend in Serbia - Volume 2: Other Country Summaries
June 23, 2010 Download...
Digital Dividend in Serbia – Volume 1
June 16, 2010 Download here...
Aegis Study on The Status of Digital TV Spectrum in Latin America
May 27, 2010 Download here...
Aegis Report: Digital TV Spectrum Requirements and the Digital Dividend
May 25, 2010 Download here...
GSMA Response to the Slovakian consultation on the Digital Dividend, May 2010
May 1, 2010 Download here...
GSMA input to consultation on award of 2.6GHz licences in Poland
April 30, 2010 Download here...
Mobile Networks for the 2014 World Cup
April 22, 2010 O CPqD, the premiere Brazilian center for technology research & development, has developed a paper for the GSMA on planning mobile networks for the World Cup of 2014 in Brazil, which will have games in 12 states of Brazil, with implications for the Ri...
GSMA Response to the DoC consultation on Radio Spectrum Policy in South Africa
April 21, 2010 Download here...
The 2.6GHz Spectrum Band: An Opportunity for Global Mobile Broadband
January 27, 2010 Data traffic on mobile broadband networks is growing exponentially as both consumers and business users turn to smartphones, connected laptops, tablet computers and other devices to access the internet, email, business applications and social networking s...
Managing Radio Interference: Coexistence between broadcasting and mobile in the UHF TV band
November 24, 2009 Over the last hundred years, many techniques have been developed to manage the interference between radio systems. Mobile systems will only be permitted to operate in the digital dividend spectrum once there is assurance that the frequencies that they wil...
The Impact of Taxation on the Development of the Mobile Broadband Sector
November 22, 2009 The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of taxation on the development of the mobile broadband sector in emerging countries. Download here...
GSMA Response to Ofcom consultation on mobile radio frequencies in Switzerland
June 21, 2009 GSM Association response to Ofcom’s public consultation concerning the retender for and award of mobile radio frequencies in Switzerland by 1 January 2014. Download here...
Mobile Broadband in the Americas: Momentum-Building in the AWS Band
May 27, 2009 Due to dramatically increasing global demand, a number of new spectrum bands are being licensed to add capacity and/or foster new services and competition in mobile markets. In the Americas, the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) band (90 MHz of spectrum in...
Digital Dividend for Mobile: Bringing Broadband to All
January 27, 2009 For many, mobile will be the first access they will have had to the Internet and the information society. The technology and the investment are in place; all that remains is to secure harmonised radio spectrum. The mobile industry is seeking an allocation...
Mobile Broadband, Competition and Spectrum Caps
January 26, 2009 Spectrum caps have been introduced in several countries at various times as a means to implement competition policy in mobile communications markets. This exhaustive report by Arthur D Little explores the use of spectrum caps in licensing policy. Downl...


