The GSMA has urged APAC countries to immediately allocate the 700-MHz band to mobile broadband use in areas where it hasn't yet been, stating that further delays could result in billions of dollars worth of lost potential GDP growth.
A study by the industry body also found that allocating 700-MHz to mobile broadband can create 2.1 million new jobs in the region by 2020.
The GSMA said that the recent move by the ITU to harmonize the band by allocating it for mobile broadband in Region 1, which includes Central Asia, reinforces the study's findings.
One example where the band is underutilized in APAC is the Philippines, where most of the band is currently held by conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
Incumbent operators PLDT and Globe have been petitioning the national regulator to allocate a portion of the band to them, but the government recently indicated it is likely to side with SMC in the dispute due to the difficulty involved with recalling allocated spectrum.
The GSMA noted that reassigning the spectrum would be in line with the global practice of allocating spectrum in the band to multiple operators and not one company alone.
Source: http://www.telecomasia.net/content/gsma-urges-apac-assign-700-mhz-broadband