Mobile data traffic is increasing exponentially as more people consume more and more content on mobile devices. To be able to deliver this growing amount of content and reach citizens both within buildings and rural areas, mobile operators need additional spectrum below 1 GHz. In this regard, Europe has fallen behind other developed regions, putting the future of the mobile internet, as well as the wider economy, at risk.
The timely release of more low frequency spectrum would present a unique opportunity for Europe to regain its leadership. The 700 MHz band, as well as the sub-700 MHz frequencies, will play a crucial role in achieving the Digital Agenda objectives of bringing 30 mbps broadband to people across the EU and serving remote areas. Some European countries are looking to take this opportunity. Germany and France, for example, have already licenced the 700 MHz frequencies, while Sweden and Finland are making preparations for awarding the band in 2017 and 2016 respectively, well ahead of the 2020 deadline suggested by the current proposal.
One of the key elements of the proposal is cross-border coordination. Completing this step is critical to avoid ‘dead-zones’, affecting border regions between Member States leading to significant consumer impact. For this reason, it is important to maintain the June 2017 and December 2017 dates for the completion of cross-border coordination, and the publication of the national plans, to avoid repeating the difficulties that stemmed from the release of the 800 MHz band in Europe.
With respect to the sub-700 MHz band, the flexibility option initially proposed by the European Commission is a limited step in the right direction. The failure of the European legislators to allow for genuine regulatory flexibility in a timely manner risks putting Europe further behind North America, where regulators have started the auction process for a paired, uplink and downlink use of the 600 MHz band.
Read the GSMA comments on the European Council Conclusions on the Decision for the Use of the 470-790Mhz Spectrum Band here.