RCR Live panelists discussed how high spectrum demand and lack of base station deployment sites signals a need for more sharing among European telcos
During an RCR Live Telco Reinvention panel, European regulators highlighted the importance of the concept of “sharing” when it comes to the efficient use of spectrum by the different players in the telecom sector. At the same time, they expressed concerns related to the lack of sufficient base station deployment sites.
Cristina Data, director of spectrum policy and analysis at Ofcom, said that the U.K. regulator is seeing a conflict emerging around the demand for spectrum and explained that the concept of spectrum and infrastructure sharing will be key to deal with this growing challenge. “We need to try and make the best and most efficient use of this resource,” she said, adding that as a result, sharing is becoming “critical” and an almost “by-default approach” to spectrum management.
She added that coexistence studies and a better understanding of real-world measurement will be essential to achieve this goal. “Obviously, technology has a big role to play here, we are seeing development in AI that could give us a better understanding of how spectrum is being used. But we also need a wider ecosystem. So clearly harmonization is still critical for all of us.”
Fellow panelists Alexander Kühn, the deputy head of German Federal Network Agency’s (BNetzA) Section of International and National Spectrum Management, weighed in, commenting: “What we need to take into account for spectrum regulation and spectrum management is always the creation of usage opportunities for those who would like to use the spectrum.”
To ease the spectrum conflict, Europe is currently thinking about several new bands such as the 3.8-4.2 GHz and the 6 GHz bands. “There are other bands, such as 26 GHz, 40 GHz, 57-71 GHz, which are completely underutilized at this point and which provide a very good opportunity maybe not now, but maybe in two years, to provide good coverage and excellent data rates in indoor facilities or in different cities across Europe,” Kühn further provided.
Commenting on the mid-band spectrum scenario in Europe, Emmanuel Faussurier, deputy head of spectrum innovation and European Affairs at French spectrum agency ANFR, said that the 3.5 GHz band had been selected as the primary band for 5G technology across the continent. He added that four mobile operators in France are already providing 5G services via this frequency band, with over 21,000 5G 3.5 GHz already authorized by French telecom regulator Arcep, with approximately 70% of them technically operational.
He also highlighted that the 3.8-4.2 GHz band had been identified in Europe to address the needs of vertical industries, adding that authorizations for experimental use of this frequency had been already granted by Arcep in France. Faussurier also said that the harmonized conditions of use this band by low/medium-power wireless broadband local networks is expected for 2025, and that decisions regarding the upper 6 GHz band are expected the same year.
However, beyond the challenge of spectrum, Kühn also noted a scarcity of sites for the deployment of base stations, hindering the ability to make efficient use of frequencies. “We have a problem with the use of the base stations right now, because we have already three operators [in Germany] and we would like to have a fourth operator,” he said.
Further, energy use is a growing concern in the industry as the sector intends to move forward to net zero, according to Kühn: “We are very happy that we’ve seen already the discussion regarding the Green Deal and also the carbon neutrality. Operators are thinking in the same way in order to decrease the power levels to a certain degree and make telecom sites more efficient in a way which allows them to make more efficient use of the spectrum as well.”
Look ahead Data shared that Ofcom feels it needs to see a “convergence of networks” in order to deliver the exceptional coverage that is described for future 6G systems. “We need to think differently as a network of networks, where private networks as well have a significant role to play,” she said. “Because in reality, when you’re trying to address the specific needs of a port, logistics warehouses or manufacturing plants, you may have different needs compared to the needs of consumers even going forward in the next 20 years or so.”
