Telcos won't wait for digital dividend for 4G: Ericsson

Telecommunications operators likely won't wait for the digital dividend spectrum sell-off to start rolling out fourth-generation mobile infrastructure, according to Ericsson's head of strategic market, Kursten Leins.

However, he said a switch-off of GSM networks was unlikely to occur for another decade.

The Federal Government will auction off ultra-high frequency (UHF) spectrum in the 694 to 820MHz range in the latter half of 2012, with the frequencies made available for use once the analogue television switch-off is completed by the end of 2013. In similar circumstances to the 700MHz spectrum made available to operators in the US and Germany, Australian telcos are expected to compete for the frequencies in order to secure radio space for fourth-generation mobile broadband networks like Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX.

An Optus spokesperson told Computerworld Australia that the telco would certainly "fight" over the spectrum.

However, Leins said operators may have already begun rolling out such networks by the time the spectrum becomes available or even sold off.

"What often can happen is you can get access to spectrum ahead of sell-off," he said. "Depending on what agreements are put in place around the auctions, it's possible that an operator could start building out and testing and even launching in areas like regional Australia ahead of the final [analogue] switch off.

"You wouldn't necessarily wait as an operator for that to be fully cleared, you could be progressively cleared."

Telstra began LTE trials with Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks in May, and has managed to transmit data at 100 megabits per second (Mbps) over both the 2600MHz and 1800MHz spectrum areas.

Similarly, Singtel included Australia in its own global LTE trials, with subsidiary telco Optus recently announcing peak speeds of 50Mbps using Nokia Siemens Network technology over 1800MHz spectrum.

The Australian Government is expected to re-plan distribution of the 1800MHz spectrum band, while the 2600MHz is expected to gain more focus, as it is the only 3GPP-certified global roaming band for LTE technology.

Comparatively little attention has been paid to trials in the 700MHz band in Australia but, according to Leins, telcos could potentially build an LTE network capable of operating over the 700MHz band, and switch it on when possible.

"If you were planning to build an LTE network knowing you were going to get access or acquired spectrum, you may very well put in equipment that supports both and as long as that's installed in the first place, it's literally flicking a switch to bring it up at the time that's logical."

Leins warned that operators would wait for at least some certainty in the auctions, but the long-term planning phase for LTE deployments could provide substantial coverage before the technology reaches mass coverage.

The deployment of LTE networks around Australia could also create the potential for further spectrum by disbanding current GSM networks. However, Leins said the 2G and 4G networks were likely to coexist until LTE held a greater majority of users.

One of the likely steps towards an LTE deployment is the transition to an all-IP network, and away from the traditional circuit switching equipment used in current GSM networks. Though Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) is yet to announce LTE trials or deployments, it recently took the first step announcing the transition of its mobile broadband backhaul to an all-IP network.

While LTE is capable of superseding current networks, it is often touted for its speed and coverage rather than its voice capabilities. As a result, Leins said GSM would continue to be prevalent in situations where high-speed mobile data isn't necessary

"Although it sort of sounds old, GSM is still a very efficient way of delivering voice services," he said. "From all the data we've seen globally, there aren't many operators in a hurry to switch off GSM."

"If you need all-IP based services, it's probably a consumer need or service-based decision," Leins said.

"Ten years from now they might be reconsidering."

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