PolicyTracker

Here are the PolicyTracker journos' selections for the most important spectrum policy stories of the year. Do you agree? Have we missed anything? Let us know. PolicyTracker readers can join in by clicking through to the story and voting in our end-of-year poll... 👇

Today's PolicyTracker story: the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has awarded 47 licences in the 3.8 GHz band, mainly to specialist telcos, government users and industry, with a particular focus on the mining sector. ACMA assigned the so-called area-wide licences (AWLs), similar to 5G private network licences, on an administrative basis with no auction. The winners were awarded apparatus licences, typically lasting one, five or six years. Spectrum licences awarded through auction usually last 15-25 years. The regulator assigned frequencies in the 3800—3950 MHz range in metropolitan and regional areas. The assignment is 3750—3950 MHz in rural areas. Research by PolicyTracker shows that 22 out of the 47 licences awarded—almost half—were linked to mining or other extractive industries such as oil. Link to full story in the comments 👇

ICYMI: our recent story on Ofcom's plan to develop a regulatory framework for satellite D2D 👇 Work will start next year, with a consultation expected in early 2025.

ICYMI: Mexico's Senate and Chamber of Deputies have approved the law getting rid of the independent regulator the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones. PolicyTracker asked Fernando Borjón and Geusseppe González Cárdenas of Access Partnership and Luis Miguel Martinez of the IFT about the implications for spectrum policy in the country. Link to story in comments 👇

We've really enjoyed producing our podcasts this year—many thanks indeed to all our listeners. Looking forward to more quality spectrum chat in 2025!

Oooh an excuse to talk about rail connectivity, but when something goes wrong (which is very rare btw). It seems the GSM-R network is having connectivity issues this morning. I suspect this is a configuration issue rather than anything to do with the physical radio network, but still, an almost 40 year old technology perhaps showing its age? Should the industry be speeding up development, trials and deployment timelines for the next generation technology Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS)? https://lnkd.in/eTa9uyDb

Today's PolicyTracker story: the UK is to get its own satellite D2D framework, following the example set by Australia and the US 👇

ICYMI: Saudi Arabia has become the first country in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region to license the 600 MHz band for mobile. It also auctioned spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.8 GHz bands. The total licensed frequencies for mobile in Saudi Arabia have now increased from 1110 MHz to 1400 MHz. “This achievement positions the Kingdom as the leading country among the G20 countries in total licensed spectrum for mobile networks in bands below 6 GHz,” stated the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST). During #WRC23, the 614—694 MHz band was allocated for mobile and identified for IMT in the Gulf countries as well as in Egypt, Jordan and Palestine, according to footnote 5.307A R.R. 5. Ayman Maghrabi of the CST stated that this has made cross-border coordination easier. “The WRC-23 footnote is a reassurance that neighbouring countries will follow us in the decision to allocate the 600 MHz band soon,” he said. Full PolicyTracker story: https://lnkd.in/emNuZ8YM

Today's PolicyTracker story: the world’s first IMT auction of the upper 6 GHz band—in Hong Kong—saw winning bids only five per cent above the reserve price and a quarter of frequencies left unsold. Winning bids of HK$630 million ($81 million) were made but with only three of the country’s four mobile network operators (MNOs) actively bidding. Bidding was subdued compared with the reassignment auction conducted earlier this month in Hong Kong for 850/900 MHz and 2300 MHz frequencies. In this contest, the winning bids were between three and a half and seven times the reserve price. For the 6 GHz band, Ofca set the reserve pricing at HK$2 million per MHz so the HK$630 million raised for 300 MHz is five per cent higher than that. Full story: https://lnkd.in/e8g3Q_HF

ICYMI: Finland’s Henna Virkkunen has now been confirmed as the European Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. This includes telecoms, which were mentioned during her confirmation hearing. “We know that our markets are very fragmented when it comes to telecoms and spectrum,” she said. “In many member states, investments are lagging very much behind when it comes to connectivity.” She said she was “willing to finally complete a single market when it comes to telecoms and also look at how we can consolidate and simplify the framework we have”. Other Commissioners likely to have an impact on Europe's telecoms sector are Stéphane Séjourné, who is responsible for developing the single market, and Teresa Ribera, who is now responsible for merger rules in the EU. Full story: https://lnkd.in/etJjpHhJ