Page 101 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

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FCC Offers Satellite Players Billions for C-Band

The US telecoms industry praised a new plan from Federal plan wasn’t without its critics. Michael Calabrese, director of
Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai offering the Wireless Future Project at New America’s Open Technology
satellite service providers up to $9.7 billion to rapidly free-up Institute, called the scheme “disappointing”, adding the incentive
C-Band spectrum (3.7GHz to 4.2GHZ) for 5G. Pai’s plan would payments amount to an “excessive windfall” for non-domestic
repack satellite players into the upper 200MHz of the band, and satellite companies, which will “come straight out of taxpayers’
license the lower 280MHz through an auction scheduled for pockets”. During a speech today (6 February), Pai defended the
December. In addition to reimbursing satellite companies for need for the financial stimulus, noting the frequency shift “will be
an expected $3 billion to $5 billion in relocation costs, the plan much faster if we can create powerful incentives for incumbent
includes up to $9.7 billion in incentive payments for satellite operators to expedite the transition”.
incumbents which complete the move on an accelerated
timeline. Specifically, the stimulus will be offered to those which
clear 120MHZ of spectrum in 46 of the nation’s top markets by
September 2021, and the full 280MHz nationwide by September
2023. Though it didn’t outright endorse the plan, a group of
satellite service providers known as the C-Band Alliance (CBA)
in a statement noted it represents a “significant development” in
ongoing efforts to open the band for mobile use. Meredith Attwell
Baker, president and CEO of industry association CTIA, issued
a statement hailing the plan as a “critical step” in “securing our
global leadership in the emerging 5G economy”. Meanwhile,
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg praised Pai’s “bold vision for bringing
much needed mid-band spectrum to auction this year”. But the

Two Northern Settlements in Krasnoyarsk Region to Enjoy Satellite
Communication

Ust-Avam and Yessei settlements in the to the Internet. Clearly, downloading and if we see it works, we shall carry on with
Krasnoyarsk Region, mostly inhabited by movies will be hardly possible, but at least it,” the official stated. In 2019, the region’s
the North’s low-numbered indigenous messengers, sites [will be accessible]. 38 settlements, where about 11,000 people
peoples, will be for the first time connected Those settlements presently do not have live, received communication services.
to satellite networks, the region’s Minister any communication at all.” Communication Ust-Avam is a settlement on Taimyr with a
for Digital Development Nikolai Raspopin towers will appear near those settlements, population of more than 300 people, mostly
told reporters. “This year, in August- the minister informed. In 2020, the region the Dolgans and Nganasans. Yessei is
September, satellite communication will will build 18 communication towers for in the northern Evenkiysky District. The
be available in those settlements,” he said. more than 30 settlements. “The North’s population is more than 600 people. They
“We [also] plan to try providing access settlements participate in a test program, are mostly Yessei Yakuts.

101 FEBRUARY 2020