Policymakers worldwide face a number of decisions as they address the expiration of spectrum licenses, analysts at Analysys Mason told investors this week. "One choice is whether to re-assign mobile spectrum licences [sic] that have been in the market for some time for legacy (for example, 2G/3G/4G use) through a new award mechanism,” said the U.K.-based firm. “Another option is to renew licences to existing holders (possibly with new licence conditions aimed at further investment and/or other coverage improvements that are beneficial to end users).”
The U.K.’s Office of Communications announced Tuesday a consultation about letting Starlink use the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz bands for its connectivity services. Under the SpaceX proposal, the company would have authorization to use the E-band frequencies at three gateway sites in the U.K. The band is currently unavailable for gateway use in the U.K., but SpaceX is seeking to alleviate capacity constraints it faces there, Ofcom said. Granting the licenses would let Starlink increase the capacity of its services. Comments are due June 27.
Ericsson and Vodafone collaborated on "a new era of tunnel connectivity” with the deployment of multiband mobile radio antennas in the Arlinger Tunnel near Pforzheim, Germany. The deployment “marks the first operational use of Ericsson’s advanced antenna technology from Ericsson Antenna System, precisely engineered to deliver robust and stable 5G coverage in tunnel environments subject to high levels of vibration and air pressure changes,” Ericsson said Friday.
A municipal court in Prague ruled that the Czech Republic's blanket collection of its citizens' communications metadata is illegal and contravenes the EU ePrivacy directive.
Mobile data service revenue in Mexico will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% through 2028, ResearchAndMarkets.com projected Friday. That's “driven by growing demand for mobile data services, subsequent increase in mobile internet subscriptions, increasing demand for data-centric plans, growing adoption of 5G services and [an] increase in mobile data [average revenue per user] over the forecast period,” the report said. America Movil, the parent of Telcel, Telmex and Telnor, leads the mobile and fixed markets and is expected to maintain its position through 2028, it said.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission sought comment Monday on a series of questions as it prepares an unclassified report about China's use of spectrum. Comments are due May 19. “How does China prioritize between conflicting interests in spectrum allocation?” the commission asked. "How does China allocate spectrum bands across its primary telecommunications providers, including reallocation and clearing of in-use wavelengths?” The commission also inquired about the advantages China has through its regulatory structure. “Has China’s spectrum strategy led to more rapid deployment of technologies that rely on wireless communications and, if so, how has this created economic benefits for China?” The 12-member bipartisan commission is appointed by Congress and is part of the legislative branch of the federal government.
The U.K. Office of Communications (Ofcom) on Tuesday banned the leasing of special types of phone numbers called "Global Titles," which could jeopardize the privacy and security of mobile phone users, it said.
Vodafone and A1 Group, with support from Ericsson, announced what they say is the first 5G stand-alone international roaming connection between two providers. “The connection, between Vodafone in Germany and A1 Bulgaria, aims to enhance the responsiveness and reliability of roaming services for customers, particularly businesses with operations in multiple markets,” the companies said Monday. The providers “were able to seamlessly support the data connectivity of a mobile subscriber from A1 Bulgaria, roaming on Vodafone Germany’s 5G [stand-alone] network using a standard device, and supported by generally available core network software using the latest [3rd Generation Partnership Project] industry standards.”
Ottawa, Ontario-based Mitel Networks said Thursday that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas approved its reorganization plan. Mitel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month. “Completion of the Company’s restructuring process is expected within the current calendar quarter, resulting in significantly less debt, and a stronger capital structure that will support future growth,” it said. The plan was “designed to position the Company to address the growing market demand for hybrid communications solutions and ensure continued support for Mitel’s more than 70 million users across over 100 countries.”
The State Department will hold a public meeting May 14 to brief the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy’s International Information and Communications Policy division “stakeholders” on “past and upcoming international engagements.” Among the areas listed are engagements with the ITU. The briefing will start at 1 p.m. ET and take place on Webex, said a notice for Friday’s Federal Register.