Global - Mobile - Spectrum hot real estate

Synopsis

The enormous growth in the demand for mobile broadband is spurring on the demand for more spectrum. There is a large amount of pent-up demand as the mobile operators have only recently become interested in providing a mobile broadband access service. This new development has also affected the mobile radio market. These are the thousands of mini mobile radio networks that operate around the world, mainly for the public safety agencies. Because of proprietary technologies these networks are still stuck in the old world of voice-only. All of these networks are in desperate need of upgrading but very few can afford these upgrades on their own. This is where the trans-sector concept kicks in. By sharing common infrastructure each agency can run its own service over that shared infrastructure. However, most agencies are wary of using a commercial network for this purpose. Nevertheless in the USA that is exactly what the FCC is proposing. In Australia ACMA has also clearly indicated that these agencies will have to learn to share; and they will need to work on harmonising their networks.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Mobile broadband pushes up demand for spectrum
• 3. Spectrum issue – more to it than meets the eye (Analysis)
• 4. Public safety spectrum debate is hotting up
  • 4.1 Sharing and harmonising mobile use
  • 4.2 FCC supports commercial and public safety sharing
  • 4.3 Commercial vs. public safety infrastructure
  • 4.4 ACMA limits itself to public sharing
  • 4.5 Other issues
  • 4.6 The battle for digital dividend
• 5. The FCC’s Public Safety Plan (separate report)
• 6. Other Reports