WCAI Launches L@Net Group to Promote 4G Deployments at 2.5 GHz in Latin America

A group of Latin American licensees operating in the 2.5 GHz BRS spectrum band announced the formation of an alliance today to promote the usage of the band for 4G networks and services in the region. Operating under the WCAI umbrella, L@Net, which stands for Latin American Networking, was created to encourage innovation, promote market opportunities, bring investment, facilitate 4G interoperability and roaming, and develop strategies for harmonized regulations in the region.

L@Net brings together more than 20 operators from nine countries, including Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brasil, Argentina and Chile. The group's founding members are Ansitel (Mexico), Neotec (Brasil) and Multivision (Bolivia).

"We welcome L@Net members to the WCAI and look forward to working with Latin American operators to leverage the sucess we've seen in other countries and encourage 4G network deployments in the 2.5 GHz band in the region," said WCAI President & CEO Fred Campbell.

India Is Close to Completing Technical Work on the 2.5 GHz Band

I’m back in the office this week after yet another trip to India (followed immediately by a trip to the NEBSA conference) to meet with the expert committee dedicated to resolving MSS/WiMAX sharing issues in the 2.5 GHz band. Although the work of the committee is not yet concluded, the committee has narrowed things down to just a handful of remaining technical issues (largely surrounding WiMAX antenna design and MSS mobile filters). Most importantly, the committee concluded that additional testing is not necessary at this time (although it is always possible that the issue could be reopened). If all goes well with the remaining issues, the BWA spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band could be made available as early as this spring.

NEBSA Conference Is a Smashing Success

I had the privilege of speaking at the opening breakfast of the NEBSA conference this year, and I was definitely impressed by the event. Attendance was up this year over last with many first-time attendees. The resort where the conference was held was elegant and tasteful, as was the presentation put on by the conference organizers. It was a delightful event and one I highly recommend to those who are interested in the educational side of the 2.5 GHz band.

WCAI Submits Recommendations to Industry Canada on 2.5 GHz Band

WCAI filed comments with Industry Canada advocating the rules to ensure effective and efficient use of the 2.5 GHz band. WCAI recommends that the Canadian regulator: 1) Allocate the spectrum in contiguous spectrum blocks of at least 30 MHz each to meet increasing consumer demand for mobile broadband services; 2) Permit fully flexible use of the spectrum for either TDD or FDD throughout the entire band and allow operators to mitigate any potential interference; and 3) Harmonize to the maximum extent possible its band plan with the band plan in the United States and other countries. “Given the amount of bandwidth available within the 2.5 GHz band, this band is essential to the development of mobile broadband worldwide,” said WCAI President and CEO Fred Campbell. “Implementing the WCAI recommendations would enable Industry Canada to minimize cross-border interference with the United States and promote the rapid and efficient deployment of mobile broadband services in Canada.”

Education and Wireless Broadband Work Together

The Wireless Communications Association International (WCAI) and the National EBS Association (NEBSA) shook virtual hands at the FCC yesterday. In a joint filing, the associations offered a compromise proposal to resolve a previously contested issue.

WCAI and NEBSA had disagreed about a key spectrum leasing issue involving leases entered into before January 10, 2005, when the 2.5 GHz band was restructured. NEBSA preferred that any such lease be considered valid for only 15 years from the date the lease was executed, rather than the date the parties had agreed the lease would commence. WCAI preferred that the 15-year lease period be measured from the commencement date of the lease.

The compromise would move the January 10, 2005 date to January 24, 1999, when two-way services were first permitted in the 2.5 GHz band. It would also provide two exceptions to the general proposition that leases entered into before that date be considered valid for only 15 years from the date of execution. A 15-year lease term could still be measured from commencement if the lease actually commenced prior to March 20, 2008 or both parties to the lease have reached an agreement.

It is this spirit of compromise that is leading to more wireless broadband deployments in the 2.5 GHz band. The continuing ability of WCAI, NEBSA, and others in the educational community to work together facilitates financial and operational support for the FCC's educational vision and promotes consumer deployment. In the end, everyone wins.