Page 135 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Latest National Broadband Data from FCC Finds Median U.S. Internet Speed

of 60 Mbps

The median U.S. internet speed was 60 Mbps downstream
and 5 Mbps upstream as of December 31, 2017, according to a
report released this month from the FCC. More than two-thirds
of internet customers (69%) subscribe to service at speeds of
at least 25 Mbps, including 37.5% who subscribe to service at
speeds of at least 100 Mbps, the commission said. The December
2017 data apparently was the most recent available when the FCC
did its analysis, which is summarized in the report titled “Internet
Access Services: Status as of December 31, 2017.” The data is
obtained from FCC Form 477 data. The percentage of customers
taking higher speed service has been steadily increasing in recent
years. As of December 2014, only 44% of customers subscribed
to service at speeds of at least 25 Mbps, of which only 9.5%
subscribed to service at speeds of 100 Mbps or higher. Conversely,
the percentage of customers taking the lowest speed services
has been decreasing. As of December 2017, only 2.8% of internet
customers subscribed to service providing speeds of less than 3
Mbps, down from 7.9% in December 2014. While some industry
observers argue that mobile subscribership has reached a plateau,
the growth rate in mobile internet subscribers is higher than that
for fixed internet subscribers, according to the FCC. The report
found a 4% overall growth rate in internet connections between
December 2016 and December 2017, including 4.5% growth in
mobile internet connections and 2% growth in fixed connections. DSL (21.9%) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP – 12.9%).
Total fixed internet connections were 108 million and total mobile The FCC identified more than 1100 service providers offering
internet connections were 313 million as of December 2017, the FTTP and more than 700 offering DSL. In comparison, there were
FCC said. The number of residential fixed internet connections per less than 400 providers using cable modem technology and less
100 U.S. households was 75 as of June 2017, according to the than 100 offering mobile wireless.
commission. The high number of FTTP providers illustrates the impact of the
Other interesting data points from the new report: nation’s smaller rural carriers, many of whom have deployed FTTP,
Cable modem was the most popular fixed broadband technology, along with the impact of competitive providers such as Google
representing 62.3% of connections over 200 kbps, followed by Fiber, that have deployed FTTP.

First 5G 3.5GHz Test Permit in North Netherlands Issued, Although Limited

to One Indoor Location

5G application testing venture 5Groningen by the State Secretary for Economic an imaginary line between Amsterdam and
has secured the first test permit for 3.5GHz Affairs, Mona Keijzer and the Minister of Zwolle). In December 2018 the government
5G spectrum in northern Netherlands, Defence, Ank Bijleveld. TeleGeography proposed to relocate the JSCU satellite
where the frequency band is currently notes that allocation of the 3.5GHz band station to an as-yet undecided European
reserved for military/intelligence usage. for 5G mobile services is currently not country, with Mona Keijzer stating the
Due to the restrictions, 5Groningen has permitted due to the spectrum’s usage move was essential for 5G development. In
only been granted permission for using the by the satellite traffic interception station June 2019 the State Secretary confirmed
3.5GHz spectrum in one specific indoor in Burum (Friesland province) – operated the goal of launching a 3.5GHz 5G mobile
location, the organization disclosed on by the Joint Sigint Cyber Unit (JSCU) of license auction by the end of 2021 or early
its website. The permit was issued to the General Intelligence & Security Service 2022, adding that the government would
Economic Board Groningen (EBG) by the (AIVD) and Dutch Military Intelligence & ‘provide more clarity about the solution’ for
Dutch frequencies regulator Agentschap Security Service (MIVD) – which prevents the 3.5GHz issues later in 2019.
Telecom after lobbying by MPs led to commercial utilization of 3.5GHz spectrum
5Groningen being granted an exception in northern Netherlands (all areas above

135 SEPTEMBER 2019