Thomas Kunz
Systems and Computer Engineering
4
Licensing 3G Bands
nVERY different country rules:
–US: finalise spectrum options by Q3 2001, prior to licensing 3G systems by Q4 2002. consultation process completed 30 March 2001 with reports from FCC and NTIA.
–Canada auctioned PCS spectrum in January 2001 that can be used for 3G services, with 52 licences attracting bids totalling $1.48 billion.
–Spectrum policy in USA and Canada is today not service specific. This means that any licensee can deploy 3G systems in their existing spectrum, if equipment exists for that particular spectrum.
–France: 4 National licenses, beauty contest plus fixed cost. First two licences awarded to Itineris (France Telecom) and SFR (Cegetel). Conditions have yet to be set for the award of two further licences. First licences awarded 31.05.01. Date of second call for tender not yet confirmed
–Germany: 6 National licences awarded, five 2x10 + 5 MHz, one 2x10 MHz. 1st stage auction completed (17.8.00), raising DM98.8 billion. Second stage closed 18.8.00, awarding an additional 1x5Mhz unpaired to all except one. 
Source: http://www.umts-forum.org/brochures/3G_licensing_09_October.pdf