Mohamed El-Moghazi

International spectrum management regime: is gridlock blocking flexible spectrum property rights?

Purpose This paper aims to examine the influence of the international spectrum management regime on the introduction of flexibility in the national allocation of radiocommunication services. This is achieved through focusing on the main elements of the international regime. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative inductive methodology is adopted that examines the different elements of the international radiocommunication service allocation framework. Data are drawn from 66 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders who are actively involved in International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector discussions. Findings The international radio regulations (RR) are perceived to be more of a framework for harmonisation that does not constrain the flexibility of countries. Countries are only restricted on their borders with their neighbours, and flexibility is already facilitated through a range of different measures. Moreover, several elements of the RR can be used to achieve both, i.e. to promote flexibility and to restrict the decisions of others. Practical implications The international spectrum management regime is not one of the reasons for the unsuccessful practical application of the flexible spectrum property rights concept. This suggests the need for reviewing whether there still is a need for such a concept given the increasing importance of global harmonisation and economies of scales. Originality/value This paper sheds light on spectrum property rights from the perspective of the international spectrum management regime. Such a perspective is largely overlooked in the on-going current debate.

IMT standardisation and spectrum identification: Regulatory and technology implications

The lack of interoperability between 2G standards motivated the Radio Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) to become involved in the standardisation process of personal mobile telecommunication. The efforts of the ITU-R ended with a family of six radio interfaces called International Mobile Telecommunication-2000 (IMT-2000) and two radio interfaces called IMT-Advanced that collectively constitute 3G and 4G standards respectively. This paper argues that the IMT standardisation process has created a new type of technology neutrality that is limited to the IMT standards. Moreover, it is shown that the industry and ITU-R have different perceptions on the categorisation of technologies in terms of being 2G, 3G or 4G. In addition, it is argued that there has been indirect link between the spectrum and the IMT standards. However, the ITU-R took several steps to encourage regulators to allow spectrum re-farming. This paper shows also how the ITU-R set the framework for both cooperation and competition between the different technologies proponents.