Finding Spectrum for Technologies
Beyond 3G
Regulatory challenges as we enter a new world
Michele Wakefield
Ofcom
In the past the regulator played a key
role in finding spectrum
• For each of the previous generations, the Radiocommunications Agency (RA)
• Identified spectrum along with ITU and CEPT
• Cleared the spectrum
• Determined how many licenses to award
• Selected the winners for 1G and 2G, or ran an auction
process for 3G
• In 2003 Ofcom was formed from the merger of 5 existing
regulators
• Ofcom is now undertaking a review of its strategy towards
spectrum management
Long term spectrum management is a
balance between three methods
“Command & Control”
Market forces
Unlicensed
Spectrum trading
• On course to enable
simple trading in 2004
• Change of use will
require ex ante
approval from the
regulator
• Long term objective is
to allow change of use
with only ex post check
• But trading with change
of use would make
harmonisation difficult
% of spectrum by value that will be tradable
80%
70%
60%
% of overall 50%
economic 40%
value
30%
20%
10%
0%
2004
2005
2006
2007
Harmonisation by the regulator may not be
so important
• For harmonisation
• Economies of scale
• Certainty of manufacture
• International roaming
• Reduced interference across
borders
• Against
• One size fits all
• Danger of selecting the
wrong application or
technology
• Difficulty in applying market
forces
Studies in the UK have shown that
1.
There is considerable scope for different applications in harmonised
bands without harmful interference
2.
The benefits of harmonisation are great in some cases but negative in
others and are likely to decline in future
It may not be up to the regulator to find
spectrum for 4G
• With trading implemented, operators can buy the spectrum
they need on the market
• With harmonisation increasingly performed by standards
bodies and operators, the regulator may not need to
intervene
• Instead, the role of the regulator is
• To put in place a framework for trading
• To guard against anti-competitive practices
In practice not everyone is not ready to
adopt this position
• Spectrum for 4G will likely be discussed at the ITU, CEPT
and within standardisation bodies such as ETSI
• Many regulators will be keen to identify specific spectrum as
they have for previous generations
• Ofcom would support such initiatives (we are not against
harmonisation, but do not want to lead it)
• Strong input from potential manufacturers and operators
would be encouraged
• Ofcom would aim not to mandate 4G in the selected bands
but allow trading and change of use to this application
• If the EC mandates 4G harmonisation the UK will have to act
accordingly
Future vision
Differences with Korea?
• What is the view in Korea of the application of market forces
such as trading to spectrum?
• Does Korea believe there is a key role for Government to
mandate and subsidise technology development and
deployment?
• Are there key cultural issues that might cause different
regulatory frameworks?
Contact details
• [email protected]
• +44 20 7981 3783