Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005) ICASA Radiocommunication Frequency Migration Plan 2019 Appendices Appendix H : Articles 31 and 52 of the ITU Radio Regulations and Rec. ITU-R SM.1603 Attachment 5 of Annex 1 : An example of the spectrum redeployment process based on the Ukrainian experience

 

This Attachment contains the description of the spectrum redeployment process in Ukraine aimed for introduction of the CDMA-450 (IMT-MC-450 EV-DO) technology in the 450 MHz band, started at the end of 2006 and finished in 2011.

 

 

The prerequisites of the redeployment process were: decreasing the number of NMT-450 users due to operation of GSM-900 on one hand and ever-growing demand for mobile data transmission services on the another hand.

 

Before starting the redeployment process, the 450-470 MHz frequency band was occupied by the public operator of the NMT-450 network (453-457.5/463-467.5 MHz) and operators of analogue trunk and radio telephony communications, telemetry of alarm systems (450- 453/460-463 MHz, with a frequency step 25 kHz), as shown in Fig. 2.

The operator of NMT-450 network appealed to the Ukrainian regulator, the National Commission on Communication Regulation of Ukraine, for changing its licence for outdated standard NMT-450 into the new one for CDMA-450 standard in the same frequency range.

 

The request was satisfied in accordance with the Law of Ukraine on Telecommunications allowing operator to do so without auction.

 

In order to create a competitive environment in the band, the Regulator adopted the Decision No. 450 of 17 November 2006 on considering of frequency plan for development of digital cellular communication technology CDMA-450. The main objective of the Decision was to make the band 450-470 MHz available for CDMA-450. Thus this Decision launched the redeployment process in the occupied frequency band 450-453/460-463 MHz.

 

 

In order to make the band 450-470 MHz available for CDMA-450, the Regulator together with the Ukrainian State Centre of Radio Frequencies (UCRF) studied the occupancy of the bands 450-453/460-463 MHz in Ukraine. Totally 147 users operated in 27 regions of Ukraine in this band.

 

Based on the results of the analysis, the proposals on arranging redeployment process were prepared as follows:

 

The redeployment process was planned in such a way as to ensure the following:

 

During the planning of redeployment process several rounds of public consultations were done with operators, using the frequency band 450.6-453/460.6-463 MHz in order to agree on redeployment proposals and terms.

 

 

In the frequency band 450.0-450.6/460.0-460.6 MHz, the Regulator and UCRF succeeded to assign frequencies for 89% of operators. From 01 November 2007, the process of licences and permissions reissuing started. The duration of the transition period was set for one year.

 

For the rest of operators, proposals for shifting to the frequency band 413-420/423-430 MHz were prepared. From 01 July 2008, the process of licences and permissions reissuing started. The duration of the transition period was set for two years.

 

As the usage of the band 450-470 MHz changed, the UCRF made efforts for concluding new coordination agreements with the neighbouring countries.

 

In order to compensate partly financial expenses occurred because of shifting operators to another frequency band, the Regulator adopted Decision No. 988 of 30 October 2007 providing operators 40% reduction for the works of the UCRF on EMC calculation, frequency assigning and radio frequency monitoring. This norm was valid till 31 December 2007.

 

The use of the band 450-470 MHz after redeployment is shown in Fig. 3.

 

The frequency redeployment process in the band 450-470 MHz in Ukraine succeeded because of cooperation of the Regulator and operators. Several rounds of public consultations were done.

 

During the frequency redeployment planning and implementation, a combination of the following methods was used: