by roberto young – gm, engineering & planning spectrum harmonization of the 700 mhz band for...
TRANSCRIPT
by Roberto Young – GM, Engineering & Planning
Spectrum Harmonization of the 700 Mhz band for LTE
• Belize Telemedia Limited
• . Roadmap to LTE
• . LTE 700 Mhz Options
• . Regulatory Collaboration
• . Way Forward
BTL Background
• In the 1980s there existed two companies in the Telecommunications Industry
- Cable and Wireless PLC- Belize Telecommunications Authority (BTA)
• BTA was incorporated in April 1987 as the Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL)
- Assets and Liabilities of BTA were vested into BTL.
BTL Background cont’d
• Cable and Wireless PLC license to provide the International Services was not renewed.
• The Belize Telecommunications Act of 1987 was established
• BTL was granted a 15 years exclusive License to provide the National and International Telecommunication Services
- Modernization of National Network- Modernization of the International Network
BTL Background cont’d
• The Belize Telecommunications Act, 2002- Advent of Competition- BTL obtains a 15 year license to continue to provide the National and International Telecommunication Services- BTL was not alone
• The Belize Telecommunications Vesting Act, 1987
- Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL)
Roadmap to LTE
• BTL was providing our Digicel Mobile Service using AMPS and GSM Edge technology.
• There was a need to expand the capacity of our existing network
• There was a need to expand the network to other unserved areas
• Our Customers were asking for an enhances experience on their mobile network
• BTL is the leader in this industry
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
• BTL and Ericsson entered into a contractual agreement for Ericsson to design, engineer and supply a Single Carrier, 850 Mhz WCDMA, HSPA+ 21 Mbps per Sector mobile network so that BTL can provide its enhanced Digicel Services.
• This meant that BTL required more 850 Mhz bandwidth as the WCDMA required a 5Mhz bandwidth carrier.
• A Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application was made for BTL providing a roadmap to LTE.
- 2. 5 Mhz bandwidth in the 850 Mhz Band- 18 Mhz bandwidth in the 700 Mhz Band
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
• BTL was operating an AMPS technology (obsolete)and a GSM technology in the 850 Mhz band
• With the HSPA+ requiring a 5 Mhz carrier in the 850 Mhz band a rollout plan was put in place.
• This then established our Roadmap to LTE in three Phases- Phase 1: GSM and AMPS co-existing in the 850 Mhz band- Phase 2: GSM and HSPA+ co-existing in the 850 Mhz band- Phase 3: GSM and HSPA+ co-existing in the 850 Mhz band with
LTE existing in the 700 Mhz band
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
• Phase 1
Source: BTL Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application, June 2011
Base Transmit
MHZ
869
870
880
890
891.5
894
B band
BTL GSM frequencies BTL AMPS frequencies
band
[1.5
MHz
] GSM
[2.5 MHz]
AMPS
[4.9 MHz]
GSM
[5 MHz]
A" A band A' B' band
band
[1 M
Hz] [10 MHz]
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
• Phase 2
Source: BTL Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application, June 2011
Phone Transmit
MHZ
824
825
835
845
846.5
849
B band
GSM
Base Transmit
MHZ
869
870
880
890
891.
5
894
B band
GSM
HSPA+ [5 MHz] Guard bands [<1 MHz]
A' and A'' for GSM [2.5 MHz]
GSM on existing bands [6.5 to 7.0 MHz]
GSM
[1.5
MH
z]
GSM
[2.5 MHz]
HSPA+
[ 4 - 4.5 MHz]
A" A band A' B' band
GSM
[1 M
Hz]
[10 MHz]
GSM
[1.5
MH
z]
GSM
[2.5 MHz]
HSPA+
[ 4 - 4.5 MHz] [5 MHz]GSM
[1 M
Hz]
[10 MHz]
A" A band A' B' band
[5 MHz]
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
• Phase 3
Source: BTL Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application, June 2011
Phone Transmit
MHZ
824
825
835
845
846.5
849
B band
GSM
Base Transmit
MHZ
869
870
880
890
891.
5
894
B band
GSM
HSPA+ [5 MHz] Guard bands [<1 MHz] GSM on existing bands [6.5 to 7 MHz]
[1 M
Hz]
[10 MHz]
[2.5 MHz]
A" A band A' B' band
band
HSPA+
[ 4 - 4.5 MHz] [5 MHz]
band
[1.5
MH
z]
GSM
[2.5 MHz]
band
[1.5
MH
z]
GSM
[ 4 - 4.5 MHz]
HSPA+
[5 MHz]
A" A band A' B' band
band
[1 M
Hz]
[10 MHz]
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
700 Mhz
Source: awt-global.com
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
• 700 Mhz
Source: awt-global.com
Roadmap to LTE cont’d
700 Mhz
Source: www.fcc.gov/rulemaking
LTE Options
• US 700 Mhz Band Plan- As identified in earlier slide 12
• APT (Aisa Pacific Telecommunity) 700 Mhz Band Plan
Source: Wikipedia
LTE Options cont’d
• Is there an ITU version that we should also be looking for that will be truly Global?
• How is the Caribbean Frequency Harmonization for the 700 Mhz proceeding?
LTE Options cont’d
• LTE- An enhanced experience using the HSPA+ has
caused customers to demand higher data download speeds for improved experience with various Apps.
- Data use has increased ten fold since the soft launch in December 2012 and we expect that it will continue to increase exponentially
- US TV channels portray the US Service Providers Networks allowing Mobile TV and Video Conferencing
- Belizeans in the US facilitating latest “Smartphone” devices
LTE Options cont’d
• Migration to LTE is inevitableThe Market plays a key role in this direction
but we will be able to take advantage that it comes with:
- Spectral efficiency- Major improvements in download speeds- Reduced latency
• Which Band Plan will BTL deploy?
Regulatory Collaboration
• Belize is on the Central American mainland and is surrounded
- by Mexico to the north- by Guatemala to the west and south- by the Caribbean Sea to the East
• Honduras is not far away to our South East• Jamaica is directly to the East of us
Regulatory Collaboration cont’d
• Belize
Source: www.belize.com
Regulatory Collaboration cont’
• BTL has chosen to deploy LTE in the 700 Mhz band- building penetration ability- 10 Mhz bandwidth allocations are supported
• Being surrounded by Mexico and Central American countries we must be aware of what they are using the 700 Mhz band due to our close proximity
• Jamaica on the other hand will not affect us due to the distance away
Regulatory Collaboration cont’d
• In general it was earlier understood that the Central and South American countries were leaning towards adopting the APT 700 Mhz Band Plan
• The 4G Americas white paper “The Benefits of Digital Dividend” – September 2012 indicates that
-the Mexican Regulator adopted the APT 700 Mhz Band Plan in 2012
- Guatemala is still using the band for TV- Honduras is still using the band for TV- Belize has no listing (but we know it is allocated for
TV presently)
Regulatory Collaboration cont’d
• Belize
Source: ambergriscaye.com
Regulatory Collaboration cont’d
• The PUC is encouraged to allocate the use of the 700 Mhz band of interest for Mobile Broadband Services
- technology neutrality• The PUC is further encouraged to not declare which
700 Mhz Band Plan will be adopted by Belize- Further engagement is necessary between the
regional regulators- Further engagement is necessary between the
mobile service providers
Regulatory Collaboration cont’d
- Further engagement is necessary between the regional regulators and the respective providers
Way forward
• As BTL progresses with its plan to deploy LTE in Belize there must be a coordinated effort between BTL and the PUC
• There will need to be a Cross Border Coordination between
- Belize and Mexico- Belize and Guatemala
• There will also need to be a Coordination between Belize and Honduras across the sea
THANK YOU!