4G Global Update - June 15, 2011

 

Arcep Kicks Off 4G Auction in France

TeleGeography

The French telecom regulator Arcep launched the auction of 4G mobile licenses in the country, hoping to raise a minimum EUR2.5 billion ($3.6 billion) for state coffers in the process. The country is one of several EU member states to be auctioning 4G mobile spectrum. Arcep has set a deadline of Sept. 15 for bids for 2600MHz spectrum and Dec. 15 for spectrum applications in the 800MHz band. More

 

 

UK Broadband Eyes 2012 LTE Launch

TeleGeography

Looking to steal a march on the U.K.'s mobile network operators, Hong Kong-based PCCW's local unit UK Broadband is understood to have kick-started preparations for the rollout of commercial LTE services in 2012. According to the Financial Times, which cites comments from U.K. Broadband chief executive Nicholas James, in order to achieve its aim the company will first need to finalize agreements with handset manufacturers and other vendors for equipment compatible with the 4G technology that can operate on frequencies that it already owns. The company owns a large amount of spectrum at the 3.5 GHz and 3.6 GHz bandwidths that it believes is suitable for LTE technology. More

 

 

Report to FCC Will Find LightSquared Interferes with GPS in U.S.

The Wall Street Journal

Wireless broadband startup LightSquared and a GPS industry group will tell U.S. federal regulators in a report that recent joint tests of the company's network showed widespread interference with GPS receivers. While LightSquared and the GPS industry agree that the tests showed interference, the two sides will disagree on whether the problem can be solved with filters or other technical fixes, according to several people with knowledge of the pending report. The Federal Communications Commission will have to referee the growing disagreement between LightSquared and GPS makers and users, including the Defense Department and Federal Aviation Administration. More

 

 

Alcatel-Lucent Helps Russia's MTS Prepare for LTE Introduction

Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent announced that Russian operator Mobile TeleSystems has selected the vendor for its optical transport network in metropolitan areas. The project will enable MTS to increase its network capacity, flexibility, speed and enhance quality of service. The resulting increase in the backhaul capacity and transport efficiency allows MTS to optimize the delivery of bandwidth-hungry 3G services and prepare its network for LTE technology introduction. Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its networking solution in four federal districts of Russia and will cover initially the following four cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Rostov and Ufa. More

 

 

Airspan Announces $19 Million Contract with BIT in Southern Virginia (US)

Airspan Networks

Airspan Networks and Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative (BIT) announced the selection of Airspan 4G equipment for deployment in southern Virginia, USA. BIT received two grants for the project, including a government Broadband Stimulus award of $18.9 million and a $3.9 million grant from Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. The project will provide 100% coverage of residents and businesses in the Federal Communications Commission licensed serving area, offering a minimum of 1.5 Mbps of service and up to 10 Mbps. The primary deployment phase will be completed within 12 months and has a projected subscriber base of upward of 30,000 customers within five years. This next-generation dual-band network operates in both 700 MHz and 3.65 GHz bands. BIT expects to be substantially built out by late March, 2012. More

 

 

TerreStar Bidders Circle

The Wall Street Journal

Satellite mogul Charlie Ergen and a group of distressed-debt investors are gearing up for a fight to buy TerreStar Networks and its rights to a chunk of the airwaves earmarked for next-generation wireless networks in the U.S. Ergen's Dish Network and TerreStar bondholders including Solus Alternative Asset Management, Stark Investments and MSD Capital are in discussions to buy TerreStar out of bankruptcy protection, said people familiar with the matter. TerreStar, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in October, owns government licenses to use certain pieces of spectrum, the limited pockets of airwaves available for 4G networks. More