Increasing Mobile Broadband Coverage Through Spectrum Awards
Many regulators are pursuing the goal of increasing mobile broadband coverage. The award of new spectrum offers regulators an opportunity to increase existing coverage levels. In this paper, Graham Friend explores the key challenges associated with this strategy.
Expanding mobile broadband coverage stands as a pivotal driver of economic growth, with empirical studies linking it to increased GDP. However, the commercially viable limits of coverage have been reached in several markets, necessitating regulatory intervention for further expansion. The allocation of new spectrum emerges as a key opportunity for regulators to bolster coverage. This paper delves into the associated challenges and considerations in leveraging this strategy.
The pursuit of broader mobile broadband coverage has become a prevalent regulatory goal. Yet, as coverage obligations become more stringent, regulators face amplified risks and intricate trade-offs between competing policy objectives. Crafting coverage obligations and award processes necessitates meticulous design to maximise coverage while mitigating risks to other goals and preventing unintended consequences.
Coleago, drawing from extensive experience collaborating with mobile operators, possesses a profound understanding of their perspectives on spectrum awards and coverage obligations. This expertise equips us to offer regulators practical guidance on achieving their policy objectives effectively. Our support spans the entire assignment process, encompassing:
Interpreting policy goals and devising suitable license conditions.
Assessing spectrum value for operators to inform pricing decisions.
Designing and executing the award process or auction, including managing consultations and drafting Information Memoranda.
With our in-depth industry insight and comprehensive support, Coleago stands ready to assist regulators in navigating the complexities of expanding mobile broadband coverage, enabling them to strike a balance between fulfilling coverage objectives and managing associated risks.
Other insights
The Polish 700 and 800 MHz Spectrum Auction: Insights and Global Lessons
Poland’s final low-band spectrum auction marks a pivotal moment in Europe’s 5G rollout, offering key lessons in auction design, cross-border coordination, and strategic spectrum management.
The Case for Strategic Spectrum Renewal
As spectrum licences approach their expiry date, a strategic approach to spectrum renewal is crucial. Traditional presumption of renewal in favour of incumbents may no longer serve the industry’s needs. Instead, a more strategic approach to renewal can optimise spectrum assignments and improve spectral efficiency by up to 40%.
Best Practice Spectrum Management
The principles of best practice spectrum management are well established and their implementation can enhance the socio-economic value of spectrum and how much operators are prepared to pay to acquire new spectrum. Whilst most regulators in developed markets have adopted best practice, the same cannot be said for developing markets. Coleago recently studied the regulatory environments in 16 African markets and recorded the extent to which best practice had been adopted.
Learning From Best Practice Spectrum Management in Botswana
The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority conducted a review of its spectrum management strategy to align with international best practice. The Authority was advised by Coleago and in this paper, Project Director Graham Friend highlights the lessons to be learned for other regulators in developing markets.
The End of Telecoms History? – Not Quite!
At the European 5G conference, Stefan Zehle highlighted that differences in mobile data usage across countries result from variations in price and network availability. While European policymakers celebrate 89% 5G coverage, gaps in both outdoor and indoor connectivity limit usage. William Webb’s prediction that data traffic will plateau at 20 GB per user per month by 2027 seems unlikely, given that top users already exceed 100 GB. To fully realise 5G’s potential, policymakers must address these coverage issues in a cost-effective manner.
Insights from a Strategic Spectrum Review
The mobile industry has accumulated a fragmented spectrum portfolio, consisting of various frequency bands that are sub-optimally allocated for modern technologies like 4G and 5G. As operators transition from legacy technologies such as 2G and 3G to newer, bandwidth-intensive solutions, the need for contiguous spectrum blocks has become critical.
