Implementation of 5G services will require a trifecta of spectrum bands: low band (below 1 GHz) for coverage particularly in rural areas, mid band (typically 2-6 GHz) for capacity with reasonable coverage, and high bands (mmWave, typically above 24 GHz) for high capacity but with limited range. Worldwide auction activity is starting to reveal [...]
Meet us in Denver at the CCA's Mobile Carriers Show (April 8-10, 2019) Johanne Lemay and Robert K. Yates of LYA will attend the CCA's Mobile Carriers Show being held in Denver from April 8 to 10, 2019. We would be pleased to meet with you for a simple introduction or for a meeting [...]
On November 14, 2018, the FCC launched its first mmWave auction for 28 GHz spectrum, being awarded on a county basis, to be followed quickly by a second auction for 24 GHz spectrum, to be awarded on a PEA basis. Then, mmWave spectrum in the 37, 39 and 47 GHz bands will be awarded [...]
The FCC has adopted new rules that are designed to reduce mobile operators’ costs when deploying small cells. The Commission believes the rule changes could save mobile operators $2 billion in red-tape, which could stimulate another $2.5 billion of additional buildouts. These reforms, approved at the FCC’s September Open Meeting, are part of US policy makers’ [...]
With over 20,000 attendees, innumerable sessions, and exhibits spread out across the massive LA Convention Center, summarizing anything about the Mobile World Congress Americas (MWCA) conference - held from Sept 12-14, 2018 - is a daunting a task as there can be. So, no overview here, but some thoughts and takeaways based on what we [...]
The FCC is planning a 5G auction double header starting this fall with the 28 GHz auction (Auction 101) starting on November 14, followed by the 24 GHz auction (Auction 102). Following that, a 39 GHz Incentive Auction which will include both sellers and buyers of spectrum. Innovative Suite of Auction Consulting Services [...]
In July 2017, the Canadian spectrum regulator – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, or “ISED” – initiated an auction process to release “residual” licenses. The residual licenses consisted primarily of licenses unsold from previous auction processes. The auction was a single-round sealed-bid process with bids submitted on May 15, 2018, with provisional results released [...]
On March 28, 2018, the Canadian spectrum regulator, ISED, initiated a process that will lead to an auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses in March 2019. Canadian auctions typically have bidding restrictions, in this case there will be a "set aside" of three 10 MHz blocks for non-national carriers. Set-aside eligible bidders can bid on [...]
As soon as the FCC's "technical problem involving upfront payments by auction bidders" got fixed, it announced a plan to kick start two mmWave auctions, as part of the agenda for the April 17, 2018 Commission meeting. Notwithstanding that some parties - notably T Mobile - might have preferred that the FCC run one large [...]
The UK’s long-awaited public sector spectrum release (PSSR) auction got underway on March 20, 2018 and includes a big chunk of the important 3.4 GHz range, one of the “pioneer” bands for 5G. It may not initially have been advertised as a “5G” auction, but as Ofcom understated it: the 3.4 GHz spectrum "is earmarked [...]