From the monthly archives: January 2012
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) launched a public consultation on “Draft Policy for New Spectrum Bands – 700MHz, 11GHz, 12GHz and 42GHz” last January 16, 2012. The aim of this policy is to regulate a planned opening of spectrum bands.
URCA completed the review of the Expressions of Interest submitted and taking them into account, has issued a draft policy for each band to be opened.
To remark that due to digital dividend, URCA proposes to divide the entire 700 MHz band into 18 channels of 6 MHz each, which will be allocated as blocks of either 6 MHz (unpaired) or 12 MHz (paired). The maximum assignment per operator in the 700 MHz band will be 2 blocks.
Related to the other frequency bands, propositions are as follows:
- The 11 GHz band is opened for fixed, point to point services, with a channelling arrangement the same as ITU-R F.387-10, recommendation 1.2. URCA notes that this plan is also adopted by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), as outlined in their Code of Federal Regulation 47, for Fixed Services.
- The 12 GHz band is opened for point to multipoint systems with a channelling arrangement consistent with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) outline set out in the Code of Federal Regulations 47, Part 101.1405.
- 42 GHz: the licensing of the 40,500 MHz to 43,500 MHz frequency range for fixed, point-to-point microwave systems, and terrestrial broadband fixed wireless access systems.
All interested parties are invited to submit their comments until next February 20, 2012.
The draft policy can be consulted in the following link at URCA’s website.
The General Regulation of Law No. 164 of Telecommunications and Information Technologies and Communication was approved on January 18.
This Regulation seeks to regulate the activities of the telecommunications sector, pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 164 that was adopted on August 8, 2011.
Since then there has been much activity around the Regulation and Control Authority for Telecommunications and Transportation (ATT) in Bolivia.
This general regulation is intended to regulate the following activities among others:
- Radio spectrum: planning and updating the national frequency plan and its usage.
- Homologation of equipment: definition of the procedures and objectives
- Distribution and allocation of frequencies for broadcasting
- Authorized and contracted for the provision of telecommunications services
- Licenses for the use of frequencies
There is a transitional period of 6 months to set the technical instructions and homologation procedures, including the list of equipment subject to approval.
The General Rules are available at the following link at the website of the Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing.
On January 17, 2012 ARCEP (Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes) issued the licences to the three winners to use spectrum in the 800 MHz band to establish and operate a mobile network.
The last December 22, ARCEP issued Decision No. 2011-1510 where three companies (Bouygues Telecom, Orange France and SFR) were selected as the winning candidates in the spectrum allocation procedure for 800 MHz-band frequencies. These frequencies are to be used in the deployment of new-generation (4G) mobile networks which will provide ultra high-speed access to the mobile internet.
Decisions on the Licences can be consulted (in French) through the following links:
- Licence for Bouygues Telecom
This concludes the 4G licensing procedures that ARCEP carried out last year, first for the 2.6 GHz band and then for the 800 MHz band.
The press Release about Decision No. 2011-1510 can be consulted here, and about the issuance of the licences, at this link in ARCEP’s website.
FOLLOW US
