FCC and Device Inter-Operability in Lower 700MHz Bands

Last week the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in WT Docket No 12-69, the topic is "Interoperability of Mobile User Equipment Across Paired Commercial Spectrum Blocks in the 700 MHz band".

The FCC wants discussions to determine if interoperability between devices in 3GPP Bands 17 and Bands 12 should (or could) be interoperable.  These bands overlap ("17" is a sub-set of "12").

This would facilitate roaming between small wireless carriers with the Lower "A" block, and the AT&T network with its LTE deployments in Band 17 (Blocks "B" and "C"). Currently there are no devices for the Lower "A" block, but of course there are many devices for blocks "B" and "C".

See the FCC document here

FOREIGN OWNERSHIP RULES FOR TELECOM

FOREIGN OWNERSHIP RULES

Before the spectrum auctions take place in 2013/2014 the Canadian Government intends to remove all foreign ownership requirements from wireless companies that have less than a 10% share of the mobile wireless subscribers in Canada.

Since the current “new entrants” have around 4% of the subscribers (taken all together), this means that WIND Mobile is legitimized, and any other “new entrant” can seek foreign investment (or an outright sale) with a foreign investor (or wireless operator).

Also Industry Canada has not yet defined “associated” entities that may get created to simultaneously build urban and rural footprints.

The next year will seek some interesting “merger and acquisition” activities in Canada!

Perhaps some global telecom operators will seek to enter the Canadian market?