Advanced Television

Spectrum

EC calls for 5G connectivity and cooperation

The European Commission is taking further steps in the Digital Decade agenda to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty, as announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address on September 16th. The Commission has published a Recommendation calling Member States to boost investment in very high-capacity broadband connectivity infrastructure, including 5G, […]

September 18, 2020

FCC to open up more spectrum for 5G

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has shared with his colleagues a draft proposal which would take steps toward making the 3.45-3.55 GHz band available for commercial use throughout the contiguous United States. This item will be on the agenda of the FCC’s September 30th Open Meeting and, if adopted, would position this 100 megahertz […]

September 9, 2020By Colin Mann

ICASA delays spectrum access until 2021

South Africa’s much-delayed spectrum auction will see some progress by the end of September when regulator ICASA will issue two invitations to apply for interested parties. ICASA says the spectrum will then be issued at the end of the regulator’s financial year (March 2021) which is a further 3 months later than the promised December […]

September 7, 2020By Chris Forrester

UK completes 700 MHz clearance

UK Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman has confirmed the milestone completion of the four-year, £350 million major infrastructure programme to clear the 700 MHz spectrum band, allowing new data capacity to be released for mobile operators. The 700MHz spectrum band had mainly been used for digital terrestrial TV broadcast as well as professional radio microphones […]

September 3, 2020By Colin Mann

FCC announces mid-band auction winners

The US’s Federal Communications Commission has released the results of the recently-concluded auction of 70 megahertz of Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in the 3550-3650 MHz band for 5G. The auction made available the greatest number of spectrum licences ever in a single FCC auction. Auction 105 gross proceeds reached $4,585,663,345, with net proceeds totalling $4,543,232,339. […]

September 3, 2020

Telesat makes Canada C-band proposal

Canadian satellite operator Telesat has welcomed Canada’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s (ISED) inclusion of Telesat’s proposal to reallocate expeditiously the highly-desirable 3800 MHz, ‘C-band’, mid-band spectrum from fixed satellite use to 5G services in its recently-released consultation on the future of that band. According to Telesat, its proposal is the only plan […]

September 2, 2020By Colin Mann

FCC concludes 1st 5G mid-band spectrum auction

The US’s FCC has confirmed what it describes as the successful conclusion of bidding in its auction of Priority Access Licenses in the 3550-3650 MHz band for 5G, raising some $4.5 billion, although it has yet to name the successful bidders. The auction made available the greatest number of spectrum licences ever in a single […]

August 26, 2020By Colin Mann

US frees up midband spectrum for 5G

The White House and US Department of Defense (DOD) have revealed that the 3.45-3.55 GHz band will be made available for 5G, a move that has been welcomed by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The DOD worked closely with the Services, as part of America’s Mid-Band Initiative Team (AMBIT), and leveraged technical work performed by the […]

August 11, 2020By Colin Mann

FCC sets out C-band auction procedures

The US’s Federal Communications Commission has established final application and bidding procedures for the auction of 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum for 5G and other advanced wireless services. This auction will offer 5,684 new flexible-use overlay licences based on Partial Economic Areas (PEAs) for spectrum in the 3.7–3.98 GHz band. This spectrum holds the potential […]

August 7, 2020By Colin Mann

Trump rescinds FCC Commissioner’s appointment

US President Donald Trump has changed his mind and rescinded the renewal nomination of one of his own Republican commissioners. Commissioner Michael O’Rielly’s 5-year term expired in June 2019. He was originally nominated to the FCC by President Obama in November 2013 and confirmed for his term on the FCC in 2015. In March this […]

August 5, 2020By Chris Forrester