The 4th CIS & CEE Spectrum Management Conference

Successful coordination of frequencies and spectrum access rights between neighbouring countries is a key challenge for regulators and spectrum managers, and vital is essential to ensuing the protection of services against harmful interreference. Specific national factors between countries in the CIS
region mean that often there are differences in the timing of spectrum bands being made available by regulators. In addition, band plans that are being adopted in CIS countries are sometimes quite different to those seen in neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe. This session will look at the
challenges that both these issues can create, and the work that is being done to find agreements at cross-border areas that can ensure the avoidance of harmful interference.
● What national broadband plans and roadmaps for spectrum release are being seen across the CIS region?
● What common patterns and trends are emerging between these, and where are there differences in band plans and timing of spectrum release?
● What challenges are created when neighbouring countries move at different speed when it comes to release of spectrum or aren’t harmonised on band plans?
● How can regulators work together to optimise the use of spectrum frequencies through mutual agreements and prevent harmful interference to services?
● What work is being done both within the o ensure cross-border co-ordination both between neighbouring CIS countries and also between CIS countries that share a border with countries from Europe?

Across the world, preparatory work for WRC-23 has been continuing at a regional level, and later this year, the first inter-regional workshop is due to be held. This session will provide an update on current thinking and emerging positions across the different regions, and bringing the discussion back to CIS
and region 1, look at the work that is being done to prepare for WRC-23 at an RCC level, and at how decisions made will impact the future of key bands.

● What different technology and policy options are being put forward to help deliver low cost and sustainable connectivity to rural areas?
● What impact can fixed wireless access, satellite broadband, unlicenced solutions and other key technologies have as part of the solution?
● How can Governments, regulators ensure that they are truly understanding the connectivity requirements of these rural communities, and then work with the private sector to meet these?
● What network requirements are necessary, and what funding options exist to deliver the required investment to roll these out?
● What are the spectrum requirements, and how can it be ensured that access to the necessary bandwidth is available?
● How can the challenge of meeting backhaul needs be best met, and what role can both satellite and microwave backhaul solutions both play?

The 6Ghz band continues to be one of the most sought-after frequency ranges for a number of key stakeholders. It is currently used around the world by satellite and microwave systems, but both unlicensed and licensed services deem access to spectrum in the band as critical. This session will focus on current thinking and positions on the band, and on its likely long-term future.
● Where does the balance lie between licenced and licence-exempt use of spectrum in the 6GHz band?
● What work is being done in CIS at a regional and national level to study the band, and are any positions beginning to emerge?
● What progress has been made in the work being done on technical parameters and channel modelling ahead of WRC-23?
● To what extent is a licenced shared access or other sharing model a possibility that would enable the inclusion of incumbent satellite users, licenced users and unlicenced users in the upper 6GHz band? How could this work in practice?
● How could the protection of satellite be managed in practice, taking into account RR obligations?
● Is it so important for satellite operators to access to the whole uplink C-band (5925-7075 MHz) over Europe and is there a link with the reduction of C-band global availability?

● How do exposure limits for radio frequency electromagnetic fields in CIS countries compare with the new exposure guidelines set by ICNIRP?
● What impact may the more restrictive limits seen in CIS countries have on the cost and practical considerations associated with the roll-out of 5G networks?
● What evidence and details have been used to set both sets of guidelines and limits? To what extent can both approaches help to ensure consumer safety and confidence in 5G?
● Is there an argument to bring standards across the CIS region more into line with international guidelines and technical standards and what would the impact of that be?
● How can the misinformation that has been circulating relating to EMF around 5G be best tackled?
● Is there a need for a more coordinated approach and increased sharing of information between countries in the CIS region and elsewhere on EMS, including about limits?
● If technologies in the future start to use spectrum frequencies that have previously been thought of as being on the edge of the usable spectrum range (for example above 95GHz), what impact may this have on how exposure guidelines need to be adapted?

● Where do countries in the CIS region sit in terms of amount of spectrum currently available in the market for 5G compared to other regions?
● How are countries looking to best strike the balance between the ever-increasing spectrum needs of mobile and those of other users?
● What specific challenges exist for regulators in the CIS region when it comes to finding spectrum for 5G
● What role can satellite and other technologies play alongside IMT in meeting the connectivity requirements of 5G?

● What bands are being put forward to deliver the required connectivity for 5G across the CIS region in low band frequencies?
● With the 700MHz band still being used by digital terrestrial broadcasters and the use of the 800MHz band limited due to its use by government services across much of the region, what challenges does this bring?
● How can the needs of 5G in UHF frequencies be balanced with the requirements of other users, such as broadcast, PPDR and PMSE; as well as key Government users?

● How much mid-range bandwidth is going to be needed to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband in a 5G world?
● What bands are being put forward to deliver this required connectivity given the relative lack of availability of c-band spectrum?
● What impact may the fact that there is not an established equipment ecosystem in these band have on rollout costs for 5G and to what extent can the approach that is being proposed by the Government of a joint venture to obtain and use the spectrum help to offset any additional expense?
● How can it be ensured that the requirements of satellite and other incumbent users of midband spectrum are fully taken care of?

● Which mmWave frequencies are emerging as the key bands for IMT2020/5G? What strategies are emerging in the CIS region and in neighbouring countries?
● To what extent can spectrum in the mmWave bands help to plug the gap left for many CIS countries by the shortage in mid-band and low-band spectrum for 5G?
● Where are we with regards to the availability of mmWave equipment and devices, and to what extent is the 5G mmWave ecosystem now market ready and economically viable?
● How are the satellite and non-terrestrial ecosystems within the mmWave frequencies developing, and how can the needs of all key users in the band continue to be met as we move towards a 5G future?