Managing the Radio Spectrum : Framework for Reform in Developing Countries

Bringing management of the radio spectrum closer to markets is long overdue. The radio spectrum is a major component of the infrastructure that underpins the information society. Spectrum management, however, has not kept up with major changes in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	Wellenius, Björn, Neto, Isabel
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper
Language:	English
Published:	Washington, DC: World Bank 2012
Subjects:	ACCESS TO INFORMATION ALTERNATIVE APPROACH ANTENNAS AUCTION AUCTIONS BANDWIDTH BANDWIDTHS BARRIERS TO ENTRY BIDDING BRIDGE BROADBAND BROADBAND SERVICE BROADBAND SERVICES BUSES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS BUSINESS INFORMATION BUSINESS MODELS BUYERS CAPABILITIES CAPABILITY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE CDMA CELLULAR SERVICES CITEL CLIMATE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY COMMUNICATION SERVICES COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES COMPETITION LAW COMPETITIVE MARKETS CONSUMER PROTECTION DATA PROCESSING DATA SERVICES DIGITAL TELEVISION DIGITAL TV DISPUTE RESOLUTION DOMAIN EARTH STATIONS ECONOMIC SECTORS EMISSIONS END USER END USERS EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE RATES FAIR COMPETITION FREQUENCIES FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS FREQUENCY BANDS FUEL GDP GEOGRAPHICAL AREA GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS GLOBAL STANDARD GOVERNMENT FUNDING GOVERNMENT REVENUE HARMONIZATION HUMAN RESOURCES ICT IMT INCOME INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION SERVICES INFORMATION SOCIETY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS INSPECTION INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS INTERNET SERVICES INVENTORY ITU LAND USE LATIN AMERICAN LICENSE LICENSES LOCAL AREA NETWORKS MARITIME RADIO MARKET PRICES MARKET SEGMENTS MEDIA MICROWAVE LINKS MOBILE NETWORK MOBILE PHONE MOBILE SERVICE MOBILE SERVICES MOBILE TELEPHONE MOBILITY MODULATION NAVIGATION NEGOTIATIONS NETWORKS NEW TECHNOLOGIES NEW TECHNOLOGY NUMBER OF USERS PACIFIC ISLANDS PHONES POLICE PRICE INFORMATION PRIVATE SECTOR PROCESS TRANSPARENCY PROGRAMS PROSPECTIVE USERS PUBLIC NETWORKS PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLISHING PURCHASING POWER PURCHASING POWER PARITY RADAR RADIATION RADIO RADIO COMMUNICATION RADIO COMMUNICATIONS RADIO FREQUENCY RADIO REGULATIONS RADIO SPECTRUM RADIO TECHNOLOGIES RAILWAYS RECEIVERS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK RESULT RESULTS SAFETY SATELLITE SATELLITE BROADCASTING SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SATELLITE NETWORKS SATELLITES SECURITY SERVICES SHARING SPACE RESEARCH SPAN SPECTRUM ALLOCATION SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT SPEED STANDARDIZATION STRUCTURES TAXIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS TECHNICAL STANDARDS TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATING COMPANIES TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATIONS TELECOMMUNICATIONS REFORM TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR REFORMS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES TELEPHONE SERVICE TELEVISION TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING TEXT TRAFFIC TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAMS TRANSACTION TRANSACTION COSTS TRANSMISSION TRANSMISSIONS TRANSMITTERS TRANSPORT SYSTEMS TRANSPORTATION UHF USER USER GROUPS USER RIGHTS USERS USES VANS VEHICLE FLEETS VEHICLES VHF VOICE COMMUNICATION VSAT WEB WIFI WILLINGNESS TO PAY WIRELESS ACCESS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS WIRELESS SERVICE WIRELESS SERVICES WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION WORLD TRADE
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/03/9069053/managing-radio-spectrum-framework-reform-developing-countries http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6559

Description
Summary:	Bringing management of the radio spectrum closer to markets is long overdue. The radio spectrum is a major component of the infrastructure that underpins the information society. Spectrum management, however, has not kept up with major changes in technology, business practice, and economic policy that have taken place worldwide during the last two decades. For many years traditional government administration of the spectrum worked reasonably well, but more recently it has led to growing technical and economic inefficiencies as well as obstacles to technological innovation. Two alternative approaches to spectrum management are being tried in several countries, one driven by the market (tradable spectrum rights) and another driven by technology innovation (spectrum commons). This paper discusses the basic features, advantages and limitations, scope of application, and requirements for implementation of these three approaches. The paper then discusses how these approaches can be made to work under conditions that typically prevail in developing countries, including weak rule of law, limited markets, and constrained fiscal space. Although spectrum reform strategies for individual countries must be developed case by case, several broadly applicable strategic options are outlined. The paper proposes a phased approach to addressing spectrum reform in a country. It ends by discussing aspects of institutional design, managing the transition, and addressing high-level changes such as the transition to digital television, the path to third-generation mobile services, launching of wireless fixed broadband services, and releasing military spectrum. The paper is extensively annotated and referenced.

Managing the Radio Spectrum : Framework for Reform in Developing Countries

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