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1. Digital Dividend Within the Middle East Region: LTE and the Sub-1
GHz Spectrum
Posted by Abhinav Purohit
LTE is garnering a lot of attention in the Middle East region these days. Most major
operators have either already launched LTE or are gearing up for such launches.
Readers of my previous post (Prospects of Small Cells in the Middle East Region) will
recall that most of the action seems to be focused on the high frequency bands –
between the spectrum ranges of 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz. In my previous blog I explained
how operators could maximize their return on LTE launches by using small cells in their
high-frequency spectrum bands.
Now let's have a look at the lower sub-1 GHz bands. These spectrum bands are ideally
suited for deploying LTE networks in non-densely populated areas. Deployment in these
bands is cost effective because of their superb propagation characteristics (i.e., the area
that a single cell site can cover in a particular spectrum frequency). On the other hand,
deployment in the supra-1 GHz band is ideally suited for areas with high demand
density, where high-speed services are required.
The below table gives a broad comparison of the propagation characteristics of various
spectrum bands:
Source: Study on Comparability of Frequency Bands in Different Business Models,
September 2010
As the table highlights, using spectrum lower than 1 GHz for mobile deployment
increases the coverage area by a magnitude of about two to three times. Hence, since a
single cell site can cover two to three times more area, the costs involved in these
rollouts are proportionally reduced.
The table above only discusses the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands, but the same
argument holds true even for the 700 MHz band. Currently, the 800 MHz and 700 MHz
bands are reserved mostly for analog TV broadcasting services. However, mobile
operators have been lobbying to free up this spectrum from analog broadcasting, to be
used for mobile communications. This digital transition is called 'Analog Switch-Off',
and will move broadcasting from analog to digital media. The spectrum that has been
freed up, and will continue to be freed up in the coming years, by this switchover from
analog to digital is known as the 'Digital Dividend' (Source: GSMA).

2. Mobile operators in the Middle East have been particularly active in promoting the
analog switch-off in the region. The World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) of
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) makes the decisions regarding allocation
of radio-frequency spectrum for telecom operators. During the 2012 edition of the
conference (WRC-12), a decision was taken to allow the opening up of the 700 MHz
band for mobile operators in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (collectively called as
'Region 1'). The Middle East and Africa operators were allowed to use this spectrum
immediately, while those in Europe were to wait till 2015 before accessing the 700 MHz
band. Interestingly, this band is already open for mobile operators in the rest of the
world – Region 2 (Americas) and Region 3 (Asia and Australasia). The decision on
Region 1 was taken primarily due to strong lobbying by Middle East and Africa
representatives at the conference (Source:Total Telecom).
The availability of the 700 MHz spectrum for mobile will go a long way towards
removing some of the major hurdles towards LTE mass adoption. Firstly, with all
regions having LTE options in the 700 MHz range, roaming while on LTE will be
harmonized and made possible. Currently most LTE roaming is supported via 3G
fallback. Further, with a harmonized spectrum, the device ecosystem would also get a
boost, with new LTE devices working across the globe; a much-needed change from
the current setup where devices supporting LTE in North America will not do so while
roaming in the Middle East. I have discussed these issues in much more detail in one of
my recent IDC reports (LTE in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar: 2011–2012 Market
Analysis and 2013–2017 Forecast, July 2013).
Now that the framework is in place, the onus lies with the individual countries and their
telecom regulators to take steps towards freeing up the 700 MHz spectrum. The
success of WRC-12's announcements will depend on how quickly they can be
implemented, so that all the regional operators move to a mutually agreeable 700 MHz
band plan.
We have already started to witness some pioneering moves in this respect. Following
WRC-12, in May 2012, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced plans to vacate sub-1 GHz spectrum for use by
mobile operators in the county. As per the proposed plan, the TRA will make spectrum
in the 694–862 MHz band available by 2015. The TRA is vacating these bands from the
analog TV broadcasting operators to implement the 'Terrestrial Digital TV Switchover'
plan, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013. The TRA is among the
first regulators in the region to propose an additional allocation for mobile operators in
the 700 MHz band. The move has been welcomed by all stakeholders in the country's
telecom ecosystem.
Following the UAE example, more countries in the region are expected to announce
such analog switch-off plans. This will build a strong base for a harmonized 700 MHz
LTE spectrum plan for the region and allow for much better integration with the global
LTE rollout plans.

3. The stage is truly being set for a massive LTE growth plan across the region…
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