The Federal Communications Commission should narrow down in six months which frequency bands it could allocate for third-generation mobile phone services.
The World Administrative Radiocommunication Conference is 14 months away, and the United States wants to forge a position on additional spectrum and which frequency bands it will use for the next generation of mobile phone services.
Industry estimates it needs a total of 390 megahertz of spectrum to operate 3G terrestrial systems in 2010. This is about 200 megahertz more than what the FCC has allocated already for PCS, cellular and enhanced special mobile radio operators. The anticipated new 3G services will enable portable data rates of 384 kilobits per second and global roaming.
The International Telecommunication Union has concluded that by 2010, a need exists for 160 megahertz of additional spectrum worldwide for terrestrial 3G services beyond the spectrum used in various regions for first- and second-generation mobile systems. Administrations considering 3G spectrum requirements will use the number as a guideline and in preparation for WRC-2000.
The ITU at the 1992 WRC identified 230 megahertz of spectrum-164 megahertz for terrestrial services and 60 megahertz for satellite service-in the 1885 MHz to 2025 MHz and 2110 MHz to 2200 MHz bands that should be used on a worldwide basis by administrations wanting to implement 3G systems. By 1997, the ITU was concerned 230 megahertz would not be enough spectrum, realizing wideband services were coming to the forefront.
Europe estimates it needs a total of 555 megahertz of spectrum by 2010, while the Americas-which includes North and South America-need 390 megahertz. Asia estimates a need for 480 megahertz of spectrum by 2010.
“The 160 figure for terrestrial looks at the requirement of geographical areas where traffic is the highest,” said Stephen Blust, senior manager of strategic technology with BellSouth Cellular and the international chair of the group responsible for defining 3G spectrum requirements. “Some countries may not even need that much. The way we look at it is on a regional basis. It’s very difficult to drop down to country-specific basis.”
The U.S. government agrees with the 160-megahertz figure. Where the majority of additional spectrum will come from, however, is unknown. The FCC in 1994 auctioned to personal communications services operators part of the spectrum the ITU has set aside for 3G services, and it has allowed PCS and cellular operators to upgrade their networks to 3G technology. Mobile satellite service operators also were allocated part of the ITU-designated 3G spectrum.
“We haven’t identified specific bands, looked at how we might find that spectrum or what we would support at WRC,” said one government official who agreed to speak on background.
The commission, under Congress’ 1997 Budget Act, is required to auction 40 megahertz of spectrum in the 2110-MHz to 2150-MHz band plus an additional 15 megahertz from the 1990-MHz to 2110-MHz band. The FCC could auction this spectrum by 2002.
Other frequency the FCC is considering lie in the 1710-MHz to 1755-MHz band. This spectrum today is occupied by government operations but will be turned over to non-government operations possibly by the time operators deploy 3G services. Other options include another 84 megahertz currently allocated for UHF television providers. TV operators are supposed to free this spectrum up by 2006 as they convert from analog to digital services.
