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NGMN welcomes the identification of additional spectrum for IMT as a result of WRC-07

In October / November this year, a major event attracted the attention of the whole telecommunication world.  The quadrennial ITU World Radiocommunication Conference WRC took place in Geneva from October 22nd to November 11th, 2007.

Main objective of WRC-07 was to revise and update the international treaty, known as Radio Regulations, governing the world-wide use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. Over 2800 delegates representing 164 Member States and 104 observers attended the four-week conference, marked by intense negotiations on the future of wireless communications.

Rapid technological developments and growth in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector have fuelled the demand for spectrum. In July 2007, the NGMN Alliance published a White Paper on the spectrum requirements for future mobile broadband communications and has requested the allocation of sufficient and suitable spectrum (up to 120 MHz) in the UHF band (470 to 806/862 MHz) in the context of the “Digital Dividend”, as well as additional spectrum in the range above 2.2 GHz.

Under the agenda item 1.4 “to consider frequency-related matters for the future development of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000 …“, WRC-07 has now identified globally harmonised spectrum for use by International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced). Additional spectrum was allocated for IMT systems in various new bands, resulting in 392 MHz in total in Europe and 428 MHz in the Americas:

•   20 MHz   in the band 450-470 MHz (globally)
•   72 MHz   in the band 790-862 MHz for Region 1 (Europe) and 3 (Asia)
• 108 MHz   in the band 698-806 MHz for Region 2 (Americas)
• 100 MHz   in the band 2.3-2.4 GHz (globally)
• 200 MHz   in the band 3.4-3.6 GHz (no global allocation, but accepted by many countries)

Note: This spectrum will not be available immediately, but opened to the market following transition periods of several years.

This outcome of WRC-07 represents an important milestone for the worldwide development of next-generation mobile networks and is therefore highly welcome and appreciated by the NGMN Alliance. A consequent and timely implementation of the new Radio Regulation treaty in all relevant Regions and counties is now crucial for the success of NGMN.

NGMN Press Contact

• Press_Release_NGMN_welcomes_the_identification_of_additional_spectrum_for_IMT_as_a_result_of_WRC-07.pdf