The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) should conduct a spectrum auction by the end of 2012 and use spectrum fee regulations to establish a reserve price, says SA's largest mobile operator.
Mortimer Hope, programmes engineer, regulatory affairs at Vodacom, was speaking at ICASA's Digital Dividend Workshop, in Sandton, yesterday.
Hope believes SA should jointly award the 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum, as most countries are opting to award the bands simultaneously.
The digital dividend is the spectrum that will be freed up when broadcasters migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial television.
However, Vodacom's proposal will mean more delays to the digital dividend allocation, as ICASA is expected to auction spectrum in 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz later this year.
Hope noted there should be clear timelines for the release of the digital dividend. In the first phase, he said, there should be a release of the 800MHz (790-862MHz) by 2012.
He proposed that the radio frequency spectrum assignment plan be finalised by the end of 2011, including public consultations, while the auction design and rules must be concluded by mid-2012.
For the second phase of the release, Hope called for the unveiling of the digital dividend below 790MHz.
According to Hope, the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands are suitable for providing next-generation mobile broadband services with speeds approaching today's fixed-broadband services. Their coverage is significantly better than today's 3G services and approaching today's 2G voice coverage, including in less densely populated areas, he said.
“The joint award of these spectrum bands is vital to economic and social growth,” said Hope. “It will enable licensees to meet the significant growth in demand for mobile data, which is being fuelled by growth in video and the uptake of USB sticks, smartphones and tablets.”
He believes that access to these spectrum bands is vital to the commercial success of existing operators and prospective new entrants.
Hope also pointed out that 2.6GHz and 800MHz bands are complementary. “Using these spectrum bands in combination allows network operators to respond to consumer demand by providing high-capacity and wide area coverage.”
In regards to the 2.6GHz spectrum, he said it is ideal for adding capacity in small defined areas, as it requires in-band migration to achieve a harmonised and technology-neutral band plan.
On the other hand, Hope noted that the 800MHz spectrum is ideal for providing wide-area coverage.
Spectrum to be freed up after digital migration and analogue switch-off of broadcasting assignments is between 470-862MHz, he said, adding that WRC-07 already allocated 800MHz (790-862MHz) band for mobile service in region one.
Hope also pointed out that in SA, the 800MHz band will become available after the dual-illumination period ends in December 2013.
Among the factors affecting the availability of the digital dividend in the 790-862MHz band, Hope pointed to the migration of digital terrestrial television (DTT) assignments from above 790MHz to below 790MHz.
“After analogue switch-off and re-planning of the DTT assignments, ICASA should ensure there is no spectrum fragmentation by consolidating all DTT assignment at the bottom of the UHF band.
“It should also achieve government's social and economic goals, which aim at benefiting consumers by promoting competition and ensuring roll-out of services in rural areas.”
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