700 MHz: Spectrum Issues
Wg Cdr Arif Khan (Retd)
Director – Regulatory Affairs,
Ericsson India Ltd
Background

Traditionally, spectrum in frequency band 470 – 862 MHz has
been used for terrestrial broadcast services. Digitization of
broadcast services has made parts of this free for other services.

In WRC 07, Americas and 9 administrations including India and
China in region 3 have identified the 698-806 MHz band for IMT
(806-862 MHz had already been identified at prior WRC).

Support of these key countries of the identification of this
frequency band provides a significant near-term market potential
in the deployment of IMT systems. In APT region there is a
significant interest by the administrations to identify this band for
IMT after Digital Dividend.

In addition, more than 60 countries in Region 1 opted for primary
allocation to mobile service of the 790-862 MHz band.
© Ericsson AB 2009
The band 698-960 MHz in ITU
790 MHz
BROADCASTING
862 MHz
880 MHz
960 MHz
IMT-2000
GSM/WCDMA
MOBILE & IMT
Region 1 (EMEA)
698 MHz
806 MHz
824 MHz
894 MHz
IMT-2000
cdma2000/WCDMA
MOBILE & IMT
Region 2 (Americas)
698 MHz
MOBILE & IMT (9 countries)
Momentum
790 MHz
862 MHz
IMT-2000
cdma2000/WCDMA
824 MHz
960 MHz
IMT-2000
GSM/WCDMA
MOBILE & IMT
Region 3 (APAC)
© Ericsson AB 2009
880 MHz
894 MHz
US 700 MHz Band Plan

US is the only nation where channeling plan of 700 MHz band has been worked out.
The spectrum being vacated due this digital TV transition has been allocated for
deployment of IMT applications, Mobile TV and Public Safety services. Under the new
band plan, the 700 MHz band is divided into two sub bands i.e. Lower band – 698-746
MHz and upper band – 746 -806 MHz. Duplex separation of FDD spectrum is kept 30
MHz.
Block
Frequencies
Bandwidth
Pairing
Lower A
Lower B
Lower C
Lower D
Lower E
698-704, 728-734
704-710, 734-740
710-716, 740-746
716-722
722-728
12 MHz
12 MHz
12 MHz
6 MHz
6 MHz
2 x 6 MHz (IMT)
2 x 6 MHz (IMT)
2 x 6 MHz
unpaired (Mobile TV)
unpaired (Mobile TV)
Upper C
Upper A
Upper D
Upper E
Upper B
746-757, 776-787
757-758, 787-788
758-763, 788-793
763-775, 793-805
775-776, 805-806
22 MHz
2 MHz
10 MHz
24 MHz
2 MHz
2 x 11 MHz (IMT)
2 x 1 MHz (GB)
2 x 5 MHz (IMT)
2 x 12 MHz (Public Safety)
2 x 1 MHz (GB)
© Ericsson AB 2009
US 700 MHz Band Winners
 Verizon spent $9.4 billion in the auction.
– 22 MHz C Block nationwide, plus another 24 MHz (A and B
block) in a few key markets and 12 MHz (A or B) in other
markets.
– Total 46 MHz in a few key markets such as LA, Chicago, &
Miami;
– Total 34 MHz in many other markets;
– Minimum of 22 MHz nationwide.
 AT&T spent over $6 billion
– 233 B Block licenses - each 12 MHz
– Prior to auction, AT&T acquired a large footprint on the
Lower C Block, which had been auctioned in 2002 and
2003.
© Ericsson AB 2009
US 700 MHz Band Winners

Qualcomm spent $558 million to buy licenses in the E and B
Blocks.
–
–
–
E Block (Channel 56) footprint includes 5 of the top 7 regions–
extending from New Hampshire to Maryland and from Orange
County to Northern California.
Covers over 68 million people and 28 key markets.
Qualcomm won licenses of B Block, near key R & D offices

D Block could not be auctioned as the only bid of $472 million was
far below the $1.33 billion reserve price. The FCC is now
considering the rules for re auctioning of the D Block.

Dish TV, a spin off from Echostar & one of two satellite TV
operators in the US, spent $712 million for the other E Block
markets.

Smaller players won remaining Lower A and B block markets.
© Ericsson AB 2009
European Digital Dividend band
 In Europe, Digital Dividend band is 790 – 862 MHz which is
different from the US, India and most of the region 3
countries.
 Following band plan is being considered at ECC for 790 –
862 MHz band for IMT applications.
– 790 – 820 MHz D/L frequency paired with 832 – 862 MHz U/L
frequency
– 30 + 30 MHz FDD with 42 MHz duplex separation and 820 – 832
MHz (12 MHz) as the centre gap.
© Ericsson AB 2009
UHF Band assignment in India

470 – 960 MHz band is allocated for terrestrial broadcasting and
Mobile services on primary basis. The 700 MHz Band spectrum, which
is from 698-806 MHz, is part of the terrestrial broadcasting band.
Currently, following spectrum in 470 – 960 MHz band is available for
terrestrial TV broadcasting in the country:
Band
Spectrum
(MHz)
No. of TV
channels in
analog mode
TV Channel
No.
UHF Band IV
470 - 582
14
21 – 34
UHF Band V
582 – 806
806 – 960
28
25 - 62
© Ericsson AB 2009
UHF Band assignment in India

UHF Band IV: There are 14 TV channels available in the UHF Band-IV (470 582 MHz) with 8 MHz channel bandwidth. Doordarshan has been assigned
and operating about 330 transmitters in this band. Doordarshan’s three digital
TV transmitters at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai are also operating on an
experimental basis in this band. Recently Doordarshan has started its mobile
TV service in Delhi using DVB-H technology in this band at channel # 26.

UHF Band-V: In this frequency band, there are 28 channels available with 8
MHz bandwidth in the sub-band from 582 to 806 MHz. Doordarshan has not
been assigned any channel in this sub-band for analogue TV transmission.
However, frequency 735 – 755 MHz and 775 – 795 MHz has been assigned in
favor of Doordarshan to operate short distance UHF links. Also this band is
shared with other users for fixed and mobile services for transmission of
data/voice and video. Some of the Govt agencies are operating point to point
microwave links in 610 – 806 MHz.
© Ericsson AB 2009
Digital Television in India

There is already a move to shift the terrestrial TV transmission from analogue
to digital mode across the world. Doordarshan is also in the process of
planning for up gradation of its 14 analog TV Channels transmission to digital
TV transmission.

Requirement for additional spectrum for digital terrestrial transmission can be
met within the broadcasting bands.

As projected by Doordarshan and TRAI, during the transition period from
analog to digital terrestrial transmission, the spectrum requirements will
increase and will have to be accommodated in 585 – 698 MHz band.

TRAI has recommended that spectrum for Mobile Broadcast TV be allocated in
585 – 806 MHz band.
© Ericsson AB 2009
Key issues to be considered for allocation of
spectrum in 700 MHz Band in India

Quantum of spectrum available for commercial use – since
there are existing users in 698 – 806 MHz band and they need to
vacate the spectrum, there is an urgent need to know how much
spectrum will be made available in this band for IMT applications.

Harmonization of spectrum – to leverage the benefits of
economies of scale, there is a need to harmonize the spectrum
especially in APAC region.

FDD/TDD interference issue – Any channeling plan will have
FDD and TDD portions of the spectrum. Sharing studies must be
conducted before any spectrum allocation is done. Since, FDD
offers better coverage characteristics, allocation of FDD spectrum
should be preferred.
© Ericsson AB 2009