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To: Eric L who wrote (10290)	5/20/2000 10:43:00 AM
From: Eric L	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13582

Re: From WRC Conference (Istanbul) - Terrestial Spectrum discussions highlights - Daily Briefings for 16 May and 17 May 2000 [My previous post summarized first 6 days of these discussions] >> Istanbul, 16 May 2000 Nø 7 itu.int IMT-2000: progress made Discussions continued on a framework on which to build consensus on identifying suitable frequency bands for IMT-2000. The interest in IMT-2000 is best illustrated by the fact that well over one third of all delegations are participating in the working group responsible for the terrestrial component of IMT-2000. Countries from the African Group expressed support for IMT-2000, recognizing the compelling benefits for developing countries particularly with respect to applications not available from 2nd generation systems. They however stressed that more time was needed to allow them to evolve from 2nd to 3rd generation networks to enable the significant investments already made to be amortized. The fact that a majority of the population in developing nations live in areas where the immediate availability of IMT-2000 may not be possible in terms of investments should also be kept in mind. Several delegates pointed to the difficulty of agreeing on a common set of bands that would satisfy everyone. Many of the candidate bands, particularly below 1 GHz, were used by broadcast applications, first and 2nd generation mobile systems. A possible approach was suggested according to which some regulatory text would provide for the availability of the spectrum below 1 GHz as required, by way of a footnote or within an existing footnote. This approach was widely supported as it would provide the flexibility for operators to evolve from 2nd to 3rd generation at a pace they chose according to market considerations. The intent would be more fully described in a resolution that would also indicate the range of bands where this would be applicable. It was considered important not only to give guidance to equipment manufacturers that were eagerly awaiting decisions to move to production but also to make sure that there was no impediment to market forces determining the mix of services that operators may wish to deploy. In response to some statements made by delegations who would prefer to know more about possible adverse impact on 2nd generation operators, whose investments have not yet been recuped, one delegate said: "Evolution will occur any way. There are strong incentives by operators not to miss out on market opportunities nor to be at a disadvantage with other operators who would have access to other bands. There are also incentives for manufacturers to meet needs of operators". A minority view however maintained that the degree of flexibility which was demanded by operators belittled the objectives of IMT-2000, that the impact on 2nd generation operators was not sufficiently documented, in particular the possible transition process to 3rd generation from a regulatory and technical perspective and that, as a result, further studies were required before moving ahead. After considerable debate and a few minor amendments, the general principles on which to build consensus were approved. They essentially include: 1. the identification of spectrum to the order of 160 MHz beyond the core bands already identified and beyond the spectrum used anywhere in the world for first- and 2nd generation mobile systems 2. the identified spectrum should be global in order to maximize harmonized use, a limited number of which in contiguous global bands 3. a high degree of flexibility through appropriate regulatory provisions to cater for the individual choice by country to decide when and how to make use of the bands in order to meet particular market demand and other national considerations to allow for the use of these bands by all services allocated in those bands to enable countries to determine, at a national level, how much spectrum to make available for IMT-2000 within the identified bands to allow countries to develop their own transition plans tailored to meet their specific deployment of existing systems 4. the need to take account of the particular requirements of developing 5. the need to identify the additional spectrum within the current bands allocated to the mobile service 6. the need to build on the work already carried out by the ITU on IMT-2000 as well as the ability to deploy other technologies in the bands identified. The meeting then started to consider the possible candidate bands. Bands below 1 GHz The delegate of Cameroon summed up the reasons why the band below 1 GHz was particularly well suited for developing countries. "First from a technical viewpoint, this band offers propagation characteristics well suited for regions like ours", he said. "Secondly, from an economic viewpoint, this band would make it possible to develop cells which could be bigger than for frequencies above 1 GHz, therefore facilitating coverage at lower cost", he added. "Thirdly, there is an industry basis. We don?t have manufacturing capacity. It is therefore vital that this conference identify one band that enables manufacturers to have sufficient economies of scale to produce equipment that respond to our environment", he stressed. From the various statements that followed, no specific agreement emerged as the various proposals offered little commonality overall. It was then decided to set up a drafting group to consider the proposals for bands below 1 GHz with a view to preparing a footnote and possibly a resolution. The footnote should recognize that there were differences of use today and that other services had to be protected, in particular the broadcasting and fixed-satellite services while preserving the concept of flexibility for each country to determine its own course while achieving harmonized worldwide use. Band 1710-1885 MHz Strong support was expressed by 16 countries of CITEL for this band because of its good propagation characteristics for pedestrian and vehicular applications, pointing to the fact that the band was large and adjacent to existing core bands for IMT-2000 and would facilitate evolution to 3rd generation systems without costly cell redesign. The band also received the support of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity. European countries stressed that this band was already heavily used by 2nd generation systems but that there was nevertheless a possibility of evolution to IMT-2000 in the longer term and an opportunity to build a framework for the future. On that basis, they agreed to include this band as part of a package that provides a suitable amount of additional spectrum over and above core and 1st and 2nd generation bands. The identification of this band for IMT-2000 was however opposed by a number of RCC countries and countries of the Arab and African groups essentially because of potential sharing difficulties with systems already using this band, in particular fixed and broadcasting systems. Once again, there was strong expression of support and of opposition. But signs of a possible compromise were clearly seen as countries, which had not identified this particular band as a prime candidate in their proposal, were willing to consider it as part of a package solution. 2.5 GHz band For Europe, this was the prime candidate band for IMT-2000 additional spectrum. Because it provided almost all of the 160 MHz and was also suitable for the mobile satellite component, it was found to be very appropriate as part of a package. This band was supported by the US, if considered into sub-bands i.e. one for terrestrial component (2500-2690 MHz) and three for the satellite component (2483.5-2500 MHz, 2500-2520 MHz and 2670-2690 MHz). The US also expressed support for the package solution for all three frequency bands. Strong support for this band was also expressed by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity countries. Several other countries had however great concerns with this band because of sharing difficulties with existing systems, essentially microwave multipoint distribution systems (MMDS) for the fixed and broadcast service as well as wireless local loop. Again, some indication of a possible package solution was clearly perceptible, given the changes in initial positions with respect to that band when considered as part of a package solution. It was increasingly evident that difficulties were more of a national nature and could therefore be accommodated by way of footnotes once the bands had been identified. Istanbul, 17 May 2000 Nø 8 Mostly satellite spectrum discussion (no terrestrial). << All daily briefings indexed here. itu.int - Eric -