Page 102 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

FCC Commissioner Carr Outlines 5G Spectrum Priorities

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr outlined his 5G priorities for as client-to-client device communications in the band. For VLP
the coming years, with spectrum getting top billing. “With all the devices, he said it’s key for 5G “because it would help power the
work we’ve been doing over the past four years, we now have a AR/VR and other applications that will drive consumer demand
lot of spectrum in the pipeline,” Carr said during keynote remarks for 5G devices.” It would also align with what other countries like
at the American Enterprise Institute. “The key is to make sure Brazil have done. A final spectrum item on the commissioner’s
we get those airwaves out into the commercial marketplace as agenda for 2021 is updated rules for frequencies between 5470-
quickly as possible.” That includes holding respective auctions 5725 MHz, which Carr contends would help make it more actively
for 100-megahertz of spectrum in the 3.45-3.55 GHz band, and utilized. “This band contains a large, 255 megahertz-wide swath
more than 100-megahertz in the 2.5 GHz band. As the Republican of unlicensed spectrum that is vastly underutilized today –
commissioner acknowledged, many of the actions on his agenda indeed, equipment manufacturers don’t even bother to include the
are already in the works. The FCC is slated to vote this Wednesday band in many 5 GHz Wi-Fi devices,” he said. The current rules are
on a proposed order as well as Public Notice for input on auction meant to protect federal users in the band, but he wants the FCC
procedures, circulated by FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica to explore whether technology advances could keep incumbent
Rosenworcel last month, for the 3.45 GHz band. As for 2.5 GHz EBS users protected while allowing more access for unlicensed use.
licenses, or Auction 108, Carr said: “We’ve already put the leg work Next year, the agency should tee up an auction for 50-megahertz
in to get this across the finish line later this year,” with a public between 1.3-1.35 GHz, which the FCC and NTIA have been
notice issued in January. Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's departure exploring. And also hold another mmWave auction, with Carr
earlier this year paved the way for the Biden administration to pointing to the 42 GHz band as the next prime candidate. Beyond
appoint a Democratic majority, but the commission currently 2022, he cited the lower 3 GHz band, 4.8 GHz, 7.125-8.4 GHz, and
remains split with four members. In 2021 Carr also wants the spectrum above 95 GHz (including terahertz bands that could be
FCC to seek input on increasing the power levels for operations useful in 6G) as main priorities. Along with spectrum, Carr’s plan
in the shared Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) 3.5 GHz targets infrastructure rules and policy aimed at making it easier
band. AT&T was among operators asking for higher CBRS power for those looking to deploy on federal lands and in rural areas.
levels back in 2019. Countries around the globe are using the 3.5
GHz band for 5G, and Carr noted that higher power limits would
help align the U.S. with international standards. The CBRS band
also sits between the 3.45 GHz band to be auctioned as well as
the 3.7 GHz C-band that carriers just spent more than $81 billion
to acquire licenses in – and he said increased power limits could
span those 3 GHz band operations. “We should take the real-world
experience we’re gaining with CBRS builds and coordinate with
federal users as we look at increasing the power levels here,” Carr
said in prepared remarks. “Getting this done will help extend the
reach of 5G services to even more Americans.” Other spectrum
items on Carr’s list for 2021 include allowing very low power
devices (VLP) to operate in the 6 GHz band at 14 dBm, as well

Nigeria to Free Up Analogue Broadcast Spectrum By 2022

Hard on the heels of South Africa’s similar announcement, notably Lagos, with a completion date of the middle of 2022.
Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission now says that the While this will may be good news for television broadcasters and
country’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) project will be completed by viewers in Nigeria, there is an increasing need in other industries
middle of 2022 when the country will fully transit from analogue for spectrum, more of which will become available after the
to digital terrestrial broadcasting. Speaking at the weekend, the switchover, potentially benefiting a number of players, including
acting director-general of the commission, Professor Armstrong suppliers of mobile communications services. Readers will
Idachaba, noted that funding from federal government and the remember that in February a similar announcement was made in
recent establishment of a ministerial task force should speed the South Africa, where the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa said
process up. According to Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper, the pilot that he expected the province-by-province process to start this
program actually launched as long ago as 2016 in Jos, Plateau March and be completed by the end of March 2022. Like Nigeria
State, followed by Abuja, Kwara, Kaduna, and Enugu, halting and a number of other countries in Africa, South Africa missed
in Osogbo in February 2018. After what appears to be a three- the original deadline set by the International Telecommunication
year break, blamed in part on a lack of political will and financial Union for completion of the switchover process, meant to happen
constraints, the launch will now resume in the country’s big cities, in June 2015.

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