Page 159 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

in the autumn. This will not affect these NGSO licensing following its award of 700MHz band spectrum via
proposals. (August 6,2021) mondaq.com auction back in March 2021, it is now considering
making changes to 800MHz frequency licenses with
Telecoms regulator OFCOM has published the a view to enabling mobile network operators (MNOs)
proposed annual license fees for UK spectrum licenses to improve network coverage and increase capacity.
in the 2100MHz band. The target frequencies were As per the watchdog’s proposals, the permitted power
originally auctioned back in 2000 with a fixed license output for the equipment MNOs use in the 800MHz
term of 20 years, but following a government direction, band would be increased, bringing it in line with the
OFCOM varied the terms of these concessions in 2011 conditions in place for the recently awarded 700MHz
to make them indefinite and to require the payment band. Further, Ofcom confirmed that power limits
of annual license fees from 1 January 2022. The for 800MHz licenses would also be measured per
concessions, which are currently held by the UK’s four antenna rather than per each individual piece of radio
network operators – EE, O2 UK, Three UK and Vodafone equipment. Measures are, however, being proposed
UK – include paired and unpaired spectrum. With the to ensure that operators avoid interference with other
government direction requiring OFCOM to set fees nearby spectrum users, such as the airwaves used
‘that reflect the full market value of the spectrum’, it for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). Meanwhile, to
has proposed the following charges: GBP567,000 help facilitate equipment manufacturers’ making of
(USD785,000) per MHz for the 119.1MHz of paired equipment that is capable of using both the 700MHz
2100MHz spectrum; and GBP290,000 per MHz for the and 800MHz bands, OFCOM is proposing to amend
20.1MHz of unpaired 2100MHz spectrum. Meanwhile, some out of band and out of block limits. According
the regulator has said it also proposing to increase to the regulator, this is to align more closely the limits
these fees by consumer price index (CPI) each year. with the conditions set out in the country’s 700MHz
(July 15, 2021) commsupdate.com licenses and with the European Conference of Postal
and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
British telecoms regulator OFCOM has said that, mask for the 800MHz band. (July 14, 2021) commsupdate.com

T-Mobile US and Verizon Wireless have requested has revealed that it has received a total of 26 ‘complete’
permission from the Federal Communications applications ahead of its Auction 110 spectrum
Commission (FCC) to exchange a number of AWS, sale in October, alongside a further 16 ‘incomplete’
PCS and 600MHz licenses. The License Exchange submissions. Notable companies that have filed
United Agreement – which was signed on 5 August – complete paperwork include the likes of AT&T Auction
involves concessions held by former Sprint Corp
Holdings (AT&T Communications), T-Mobile License
States holding companies Sprint Realty, Sprint Spectrum and (T-Mobile US) and United States Cellular Corporation
SprintCom, all of which were acquired by T-Mobile (UScellular). Fierce Wireless notes that DISH Network
US as part of the Sprint-T-Mobile mega-merger in has lodged an application via a holding company called
April 2020. The Verizon licenses are variously held Weminuche, while Grain Management will bid via New
by bidding vehicle Cellco Partnership, Alltel and Rural Level III. The list of incomplete bidders, meanwhile,
Cellular Corporation. The public interest statement includes major players such as Cellco Partnership
notes: ‘These assignments involve only the transfer (Verizon Wireless) and Frontier Communications
of spectrum; no network or other assets or customers Holdings. The two lists are rounded out with small-scale
are involved. The assignments are, in some markets, regional operators, spectrum investors and assorted
intra-market license exchanges that will enable more bidding vehicles. Companies have until 2 September
efficient operations resulting from larger blocks to finalize their incomplete submissions. According
of contiguous spectrum and/or the alignment of to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, Auction
spectrum blocks held in adjacent markets. Most of 110 will include 100MHz of mid-band spectrum in
these intra-market exchanges involve the exchange of the 3.45GHz-3.55GHz band. The process will begin
an even amount of spectrum, where neither party will on 5 October 2021 and see the spectrum divided into
increase its spectrum holdings in the market.’ In 37 of ten 10MHz blocks licensed by Partial Economic Area
the 42 counties where spectrum is being assigned to (PEA), for a total of 4,060 flexible-use licenses.
the T-Mobile licensees, T-Mobile’s resulting spectrum (August 19, 2021) commsupdate.com
aggregation will be below the applicable spectrum
screens. Verizon’s spectrum aggregation, meanwhile, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
will fall below the spectrum screen in 40 of 41 counties. published its first map that shows 4G LTE mobile
(August 24, 2021) commsupdate.com broadband coverage across the U.S. The map shows
coverage as of May 15, 2021. Users can click boxes
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to show the coverage of each of the nation’s four

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