Page 116 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

India to Reserve 5G Spectrum for Private Networks

India unveiled plans to hold an auction of 5G-enabling spectrum private networks to support “a new wave” of industrial applications
by the end of July and indicated some frequencies will be reserved in sectors such as automotive, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and
to enable enterprises to establish private mobile networks. In more.
a statement, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi announced it had approved a proposal of the
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to auction a total
of 72GHz of spectrum spanning frequencies from 600MHz to
26GHz, with a validity period of 20 years. Reuters reported India’s
government agreed to set a reserve price of INR3.2 billion ($40.6
million). However, the plan to set aside spectrum for what the
government termed “captive non-public networks” has proved
controversial and somewhat divisive. It is opposed by the Cellular
Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major
operators including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea,
but the Broadband India Forum (BFI), which speaks on behalf of
tech companies including Amazon, Google and Meta Platforms,
supports the plan. In a tweet, the COAI wrote allocating spectrum
to industry verticals for private networks “isn’t justified as
licensed access service providers are fully capable of providing all
customized solutions”. The cabinet explained it decided to enable

T-Mobile US Seeks Special Temporary Authority to Trial 3.45GHz Spectrum

T-Mobile US has requested special temporary authority (STA) from band – in cooperation with equipment manufacturers – in advance
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test spectrum of providing services to the public. T-Mobile US was a successful
in the 3.45GHz-3.55GHz band in and around Dallas, Texas, Kansas bidder in the FCC’s recently concluded 3.45GHz band auction
City, Missouri, New York City, New York and Seattle, Washington. (Auction 110), after submitting more than USD2.89 billion in gross
The STA, which was unearthed by RCR Wireless, was requested by bids to secure 199 licenses covering 79 Partial Economic Areas
holding company T-Mobile License and covers the period from 2 (PEAs).
May to 29 October. Grant of the STA will permit T-Mobile to test the

Ofcom Readies Drones Liftoff

UK regulator Ofcom outlined plans to establish a spectrum licensing its decision by November. In a statement, the regulator said
regime for commercial drones, with the aim of allowing operators advances in drone technology have created a range of commercial
to use mobile and satellite networks to deliver services via the opportunities across several industries, from doorstep deliveries
unmanned flying devices. The regulator said it has been working to machinery maintenance. Ofcom’s spectrum interim group
with the government and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to develop director Helen Hearn said the aim is to ensure that businesses
a new approach for authorizing the radio equipment needed on “can access the spectrum they need to harness the full potential of
drones. It has now opened a consultation on its proposals, and the latest drone technology”. Ofcom currently allows drones to use
is inviting responses by 5 September 2022. It plans to publish airwaves designated for model aircraft or for Wi-Fi, but noted that
this is unsuitable for the services offered by the latest generation
of drone. The proposed Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Operator
Radio license would authorize licensed operators to use mobile
and satellite terminals for control and transmission of data and
video; as well as safety equipment to avoid collisions. The new
license would not replace the current license exemption regime for
low power 2.4GHz and 5GHz equipment currently used by most
drones on the market.

116 MAY-JUNE 2022