700 Mhz Spectrum Usage

No, iirc during the consultation Comreg suggested Three surrender 2 x 5 MHz of their 900 MHz spectrum and have it included in the auction for all to bid on, including Three, and have no competition cap as a result. Three rejected this.

My understanding this morning regarding the cap, as there was no competition for the 700 MHz spectrum, other than the 3 MNOs for equal shares, as each bidder got what they wanted the cap was not applied.

Because of this I assume Three withdrew their appeal. The other part of the appeal, the auction format, this was already decided by the appeal Court.

Court of Appeal order

In the Court of Appeal 21st December 2022

MBSA Final Assignment Plan published yesterday, no changes from the Provisional Assignment Plan published a few weeks ago

https://www.comreg.ie/publication/multi-band-spectrum-award-final-assignment-plan

First batch of MBSA2 licences issued last week.

Licences were issued to the winning bidders for the 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz bands. Licences commenced 20 January and will expire on 13 February 2042. 

Licences for the 700 MHz and 2100 MHz bands continue under the Short-Term ECS framework, these licences expire 1 April next.

The 2100 MHz band is also subject to a transition phase where the MNOs will have to make adjustments to their frequency assignments to comply with the outcome of the MBSA2 award.

2100 MHz Transition

Three Ireland                  current assignment (original assignment)
MBSA2 Assignment 

1920/2110 MHz                   - vacant -    (Three Ireland originally)
1925/2115 MHz                   Three Ireland
1930/2120 MHz                   - vacant -    (Three Ireland originally)
1935/2125 MHz                   eir

The two vacant blocks were originally assigned to Three Ireland back in 2002 as part of their "A" licence. They opted not to renew two of the three licence blocks of spectrum when the licence expired back in July due to the renewal cost and have remained empty since. First phase of the transition likely to begin here I guess, to clear eir's assigned block?

Vodafone                       current assignment
MBSA2 Assignment

1940/2130 MHz                   eir
1945/2135 MHz                   eir
1950/2140 MHz                   Vodafone
1955/2145 MHz                   Vodafone

eir/Meteor      	        current assignment (original assignment)
MBSA2 Assignment

1960/2150 MHz                    Vodafone
1965/2155 MHz                    Three Ireland (O2 originally)
1970/2160 MHz                    Three Ireland (O2 originally)
1975/2165 MHz                    Three Ireland (O2 originally)

Open to correction on this, but I think eir may also be subject to a liberalisation fee for the remainder of their original 2100 MHz 3G "B" licence spectrum, which expires in 2027. The fee iirc will be based on the value of the 2100 MHz spectrum in the MBSA2 auction and the start date of the new licence.

Their 2100 MHz spectrum was temporarily liberalised under the Covid 19 and short-term licence regulations.

Any idea how long it could take operators to deploy 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz bands ?

Id assume operators have already deployed radios to support these bands when upgrading sites and just need to be switched on.

I’d be surprised if Huawei SRAN upgraded sites didn’t support 2300mhz.

The Alphawireless antennas they use support up to 2600mhz so hopefully the 60mhz 2.3ghz will be rapidly deployed to supplement 5G on none NR sites. DSS isn’t much better than 4G.

https://alphawireless.com/ds/AW3871-E-F.pdf

Back before Mr Justice O'Moore again next Tuesday 7th February

Three Ireland's 700 MHz & 2100 MHz MBSA2 licence issued & transition activities

On 26 January 2023, following a request from Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited (“Three”), ComReg:

• amended Three’s MBSA2 Liberalised Use Licence to commence Three’s rights of use in the 700 MHz Band on 26 January 2023; and,
• amended Three’s Short-Term ECS Licence to foreshorten Three’s rights of use in the 700 MHz band which expired on 25 January 2023.

On 1 February 2023, following a request from Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited (“Three”) and to allow for an orderly and timely transition, ComReg:

• amended Three’s MBSA2 Liberalised Use Licence to commence rights of use in the 2.1 GHz Band:
  • in Blocks A and B from 31 January 2023,
  • in Block C from 14 February 2023; and
  • in Block D subject to completion of transition activities.
• amended Three’s Short-Term ECS Licence to foreshorten Three’s rights of use in the 2.1 GHz band:
  • in Block B which expired on 30 January 2023;
  • in Blocks J-L which expire on 13 February 2023.

Transition Activities

Three Ireland                    Short-Term ECS Licence                  MBSA2 Licence
2100 MHz MBSA2 Assignment        Expiry                                  Start

A 1920/2110 MHz                  - vacant -                              31 January 2023
B 1925/2115 MHz                  Three Ireland 30 January 2023           31 January 2023
C 1930/2120 MHz                  - vacant -                              14 February 2023
D 1935/2125 MHz                  eir

Vodafone                         Short-Term ECS Licence                  MBSA2 Licence 
2100 MHz MBSA2 Assignment        Expiry                                  Start

E 1940/2130 MHz                  eir
F 1945/2135 MHz                  eir
G 1950/2140 MHz                  Vodafone
H 1955/2145 MHz                  Vodafone

eir/Meteor      	           Short-Term ECS Licence                MBSA2 Licence Start
2100 MHz MBSA2 Assignment          Expiry                                Start

I 1960/2150 MHz                    Vodafone
J 1965/2155 MHz                    Three Ireland 13 February 2023
K 1970/2160 MHz                    Three Ireland 13 February 2023
L 1975/2165 MHz                    Three Ireland 13 February 2023

From the judgement

This is the kind of stuff that goes unchallenged when there's no consumer representation present. The Court doesn't seem to be aware that ComReg's and MNOs interests are aligned in overstating both MNO coverage and investment plans. 

Interesting to see if O'Moore has anything new to offer after all this time.

Having three physical networks in rural areas is still nonsensical. Nonetheless a three-way split by administrative assignment would have almost certainly been accepted by MNOs without the need for an auction. From the judgement it seems even ComReg agreed that there was almost no possibility of a new MNO entrant.

MVP award goes to Marsden of NERA.

...and not forgetting that we consumers will be paying for everything; licences, consultants, lawyers.

My understanding is that O'Moore will still deliver a judgement.

I could well be wrong on the Judgement but there's listings for 15th and 21st February.

2100 MHz transition plan published

https://www.comreg.ie/publication/multi-band-spectrum-award-the-2-1-ghz-band-transition-plan

These proceedings have now been struck out. So after all that court time, stays, appeals of stays etc there's nothing to be learned.

Minister declines to ask ComReg a question about coverage conditions at the 406 specific locations in the MBSA_2.