Brazil decides not to decide.
At least not this week.
itu.int
Anatel decides to announce PCS frequency after Istanbul
4/14/2000, 5:01 pm (GMT -3)
Anatel has decided not to announce whether the frequency for PCS in Brazil will be 1900 MHz
or 1800 MHz until June 2, when the World Radiofrequency Conference ends. WRC-2000,
organized by the ITU, is due to start on May 8 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Brazilian regulator has
taken this decision because European countries have asked the ITU to include two additional
bands in the allocation for IMT-2000 - 1710-1885 MHz and 2520-2570 MHz. IMT-2000 is the
ITU's term for third-generation mobile services (3G). The Conference may decide to add these to
the 1900 MHz core band initially reserved for 3G, and Anatel will evidently have to take that
change into consideration. Renato Guerreiro, director-general of Anatel, says the frequency
issue can be left until later without affecting other aspects of the ongoing reformulation of Brazil's
mobile telephony market, such as coverage areas and bidding rules for new licenses, which can
be worked out before WRC-2000.
Change of plans could change dogma
4/14/2000, 5:01 pm (GMT -3)
According to Renato Guerreiro, the approach taken by Anatel to date in studying the frequency
allocation issue has been based on a "dogma". PCS would be given either 1800 MHz or 1900
MHz and the other band would be reserved for 3G. But now the dogma could change, because
besides discussing additional bands for 3G, the Istanbul conference will consider reuse of the
bands now used for 2G when 3G services come on stream. In other words, it's beginning to look
as if both bands (1800 and 1900 MHz) could be freed up for use by the second mobile provider
in Brazil. If all goes well in the discussion of frequency reuse at Istanbul, both bands will be
available for reuse under IMT-2000. In short, it may turn out that all roads lead to 3G.
Service will need more than 5 MHz to permit migration
4/14/2000, 5:01 pm (GMT -3)
One issue that hasn't been resolved yet is the bandwidth to be allocated to providers of 2G
services in Brazil. In preparing to auction licenses for a third mobile competitor in each region,
Anatel is following the PCS model implemented in the U.S., which requires bands of between 5
MHz and 15 MHz. According to entities such as the UMTS Forum, which is advising the ITU on
3G, these bandwidths are too narrow for services such as IMT-2000.
Brazil won't support inclusion of 2500 MHz in IMT-2000
4/14/2000, 5:01 pm (GMT -3)
Brazil supports inclusion of the 1800 MHz band in IMT-2000. This is in line with the position
adopted by Citel. But Renato Guerreiro says Brazil won't back addition of 2500 MHz because in
the Americas this band is used for MMDS. If it's added to IMT-2000, he explains, a new band
will have to be allocated to this pay-TV service. Meanwhile, however, Anatel will endeavor to
prevent the band from being reserved for 3G. |
