ITWire

It all sounds good, but there is just one small problem: spectrum. The current HSPA technology and LTE are both heading pretty much in the same direction in terms of their ability to make use of the spectrum  (Telstra says HSPA in its Next G network will deliver up to 28Mbps by the end of 2008).

However HSPA is constrained by being required to conform to the current 3G spectrum usage of 5MHz blocks. LTE is not, and will only really have an edge on HSPA if it can get access to 20MHz blocks of spectrum - its throughput gains over HSPA will come largely from the greater efficiencies obtainable from having more spectrum an having it in large contiguous blocks.

But don't hold your breath. The most likely spectrum available is in the 2500-2690GHz band presently used in Australia for electronic news gathering (ENG). Of this the 140MHz from 2500-2570MHz and - and 2620-2690MHz is allocated globally for 3G. The ACMA is looking at re-allocating it, but won't set a timeframe and even then there won't be enough. Telstra reckons that, even with the throughput gains available from LTE it won't be enough even for two cellular operators.

And the ACMA is heading for a huge battle with vested interests and incumbent users. According to Barry Matson, principal of spectrum consultancy, SpectrumWise, in a submission to the ACMA last year, the band "is used almost exclusively by the Australian TV networks for supporting outside broadcasts with a variety of video communications links from cameras to various fixed and mobile platforms...because of some extraordinary arrangements that the broadcasters negotiated many years ago with the ACMA predecessor spectrum regulators."

Most notably, says Matson, "ENG services have the right to locate anywhere in the country without any need to inform the regulator or the industry. This quite effectively prevents any other user from sharing the band because it would be impossible to protect unknown services. This exclusivity has been enhanced in recent times by an embargo on new licences placed on the spectrum by ACMA."
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