Advanced Television

Spectrum

DSA welcomes FCC’s authorisation of AFC systems

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) has congratulated the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on its decision to authorise Automatic Frequency Coordination (AFC) systems in the 6 GHz band to enable standard power devices to access 850 MHz of spectrum and support a wide range of enterprise and consumer broadband services in the US. AFC systems maximise […]

February 27, 2024

Ligado spectrum claim “must be dismissed”

Ligado Networks has been arguing for $40 billion (€36.9bn) of compensation from various US Federal Agencies over claims that the Agencies “roadblocked” Legado’s L-band frequencies and spectrum because the US government wanted the spectrum itself. The case is best described as “complicated” and centres on the FCC’s granting to Ligado in 2020 to create a […]

January 29, 2024

India Telecommunications Bill under debate

Indian telcos and their satellite partners will have to wait some time to access new satellite spectrum over the nation. A new Telecommunications Bill is now under debate and this is not likely to be finally decided and approved until a planned budget session in February 2024. The various authorities will then need time to […]

December 21, 2023

GSMA welcomes WRC-23 spectrum decisions

The World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) has concluded with what mobile industry trade body the GSMA describes as “groundbreaking” spectrum decisions that will shape the future of mobile communications. Governments agreed on new mobile low-band spectrum (below 1 GHz) and mid-band spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 6 GHz ranges. The GSMA welcomed these outcomes […]

December 18, 2023By Colin Mann

MTN responds to Telkom’s auction delay request

As previously reported, South African telco Telkom has asked regulator Icasa to delay its planned spectrum auction, citing anxieties over its ability to fund participation in an auction. The move has prompted Telkom’s rival MTN to complain about the possible delay while another competitor, Vodacom, wants Icasa to come up with a process that considers […]

November 24, 2023By Chris Forrester

South Africa: Telkom seeks spectrum auction delay

South African telco Telkom has asked communications regulator Icasa to delay its upcoming spectrum auction because it fears it doesn’t have the funds to participate. Icasa sold off a batch of frequencies in 2022 for 4G and 5G services which resulted in Telkom’s rivals (MTN and Vodacom) obtaining significant allocations. Icasa had planned to hold […]

November 22, 2023By Chris Forrester

Intelsat responds to SES’s “bombastic brief”

SES might have received the FCC’s $3 billion (€2.76bn) in compensation for handing over its C-band satellite frequencies in October 2023. But the long-running arguments over how the FCC’s overall compensation was allocated continue to resonate between SES and Intelsat. Lawyers for SES filed their argument to Intelsat’s bankruptcy court on September 28th seeking about […]

November 15, 2023By Chris Forrester

US unveils new spectrum strategy

There’s a new spectrum strategy from the US Department of Commerce and its National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) agency. The end result will see 2,700 megahertz of spectrum released for “new, innovative uses”. “Spectrum is a limited resource that enables the everyday and the extraordinary – from checking the weather on our phone to […]

November 15, 2023By Chris Forrester

Ofcom sets out 5G spectrum auction method

UK comms regulator Ofcom has set out the design of the auction for awarding licences for millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum. In September 2023, Ofcom confirmed that it will open the 26 GHz and 40 GHz spectrum bands to mobile technology, including 5G services. According to Ofcom, as well as improving mobile services – particularly capacity […]

November 8, 2023By Colin Mann

DISH Network bandwidth extension likely

Charlie Ergen’ DISH Network looks like it will be granted an 800 MHz extension to its existing licensed 5G bandwidth over much of the US. The extension will come about because of a Licence Transfer deal with T-Mobile. In a recent filing with the US District Court for the District of Columbia, DISH has argued […]

October 20, 2023By Chris Forrester