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BUSINESS ANALYSIS FOR TELECOMS PROFESSIONALS SEPTEMBER 2011 LEADER SPECTRUM SPATS

The battle for scarce spectrum is intensifying as regulators gear up for auctions and operators eye up valuable assets

Ian Kemp Editor

Total Telecom+

providers look to the next genera- tion of mobile broadband services and at how to ease network conges- tion. Across the globe timetables are being set for spectrum auctions; in many countries the process is already underway. Throughout Europe, for example,

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regulators are in the process of auctioning off spectrum that can be used for LTE services (Timeline p.5). And there is another reason why this is a critical time for spec- trum allocation: many of the original mobile licences that were awarded some 10–20 years ago are soon due

There is simply not enough spectrum to go round

to expire and are up for renewal, points out Coleago Consulting. Many argue that there is simply

not enough spectrum to go round, although governments are taking steps to free up capacity. This month UK regulator Ofcom followed the lead of the US in approving the use of white space spectrum—unused airwaves in bands reserved for broadcast TV signals—for services such as broad- band and M2M communications. Just how precious spectrum has

pectrum is at the top of the agenda right now for regula- tors and operators as service

become is reflected in some emerg- ing confrontations. There are fears that UK auctions, due in the first half of 2012, could be delayed due to potential legal action by some oper- ators which argue they are not getting a fair crack at the whip in broadband/LTE spectrum auctions (see Network Strategies p.12). And in the US, AT&T is finding

to its cost that too much in the way of frequency assets and coverage can make the competition watchers twitchy. Now that the Department of Justice has moved to block its acquisition of T-Mobile USA, AT&T could face a break-up fee of up to $6 billion that would include losing valuable spectrum. If the deal is to succeed, AT&T could still be forced to divest a large chunk of T-Mobile’s subscribers and spectrum. But others are making good use

of their gains. Operators which have been successful in LTE auctions are giving IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) a new lease of life as they turn to the technology to deliver voice services and protect precious revenue streams (Technology Trends p.12). In future they plan to use the platform to deliver a whole host of new converged services. And reminding us that it isn’t all

about ownership of assets, over- the-top content service providers are enticing operators into new partnership deals (p.16). With spec- trum scarce, there could be a whole lot more sharing in future. n

CONTENTS NEWS IN BRIEF 5 Timeline

A round-up of some of the major stories reported in our daily news service www.totaltele.com

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

8 IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)

IMS is finding favour among mobile operators moving to LTE that want to protect voice revenues as well as introduce new converged services. But they face technology and process challenges, as well as competition from free applications.

NETWORK STRATEGIES

12 Operator LTE business models

Spectrum will have a big impact on the LTE business models of mobile operators, and some say they are not getting a fair crack at the whip in upcoming auctions.

CONTENT STRATEGIES 16 Over-the-top content strategies

Operators are starting to embrace over-the-top content as a way to expand services and reach out to new audiences, developing new business models.

STATISTICS 20 Prime numbers

Worldwide mobile device sales in Q2, mobile operator capex and opex trends, and enterprise voice equipment revenues.

TELECOM WORLD THIS NOVEMBER

ATTEND TOTAL

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