Information about event here.

WRC-19 took place in Egypt at the end of 2019, with a number of key decisions taken with the aim of delivering a global harmonised plan for the delivery of the required spectrum for fixed, mobile, satellite and broadcasting industries. And then immediately following the conclusion of the conference, the first preparation meeting for WRC-23 was held, which identified the key candidate bands to be considered in 2023 for the next wave of 5G frequencies. This session will first offer the opportunity to look back at the outcomes of WRC-19 with keynote presentation from ASMG Chairman Tariq Al Awadhi and ITU Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau – Mario Maniewicz. It will then move on to look forward to look at WRC-23, and at the initial candidate bands that have been identified as the next wave of bands for 5G and beyond. It will more broadly look ahead at the next steps and timetable ahead and the issues that are likely going to be s the build up to WRC-23 already begins.

The emergence of 5G, IoT and future connected technologies means that all over the world, the digital landscape is evolving quicker than we have ever seen before. Underpinning all this exciting development however is spectrum – the fuel for connectivity. The challenge for spectrum managers is to ensure that a strategy is in place to keep up with this fast evolving environment, and to ensure that the required spectrum is made available in a timely fashion, and that it is allocated and utilised in the most efficient way possible. This session will set the scene by looking at how spectrum and regulatory frameworks both in the MENA region and around the world are developing in preparation for the networked societies of today and tomorrow.

• How are regulators around the world preparing for 5G and the future networked society, and how are regulatory frameworks evolving?
• What work is being done to co-ordinate this on a global level and to what extent have the decisions at WRC-19 affected regional spectrum strategies?
• How do strategies and new emerging telecoms regulatory framework in the MENA compare to those that are seen elsewhere in the world (particularly North America and Europe)?

One of the biggest ongoing challenges for regulators in the MENA region and elsewhere in the world is to design a process for assigning spectrum licences that ensures an efficient allocation of the available bandwidth at a fair price; and ultimately delivers a competitive market and encourages innovation. This session will look at the approaches taken by regulators in the MENA region to awards spectrum, and to set prices and licence conditions. It will look at examples of best practice in all these areas, and discuss the best way forward for regulators to ensure that the available spectrum is brought to market as quickly, efficiently and as fairly as possible.

• What awards have been seen in the MENA region over the past 12 months, and which countries will be allocating bands in the near future?
• What methods have been seen and how has this impacted outcomes?
• What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of auctions, beauty contests and direct awards, and under what circumstances should each be considered the best option?
• In which circumstances may each of these be appropriate and how important is it that regulators consider national differences and the specific situation in their own country when both setting a method for allocation and designing the award process?
• For regulators who are expected to realize reasonable revenues, what is the appropriate approach for setting reserve prices?
• What role do licence conditions and award rules play in determining spectrum prices?
• What role do spectrum prices play in influencing the level of investment and incentives to compete in next generation mobile services?

From smart manufacturing to connected vehicles; and smart health to utilities and cities, vertical industries everywhere are starting to realise the potential of the new connected digital society. The challenge for regulators is to develop a spectrum regime that meets the (sometimes complex) requirements of all these cases, and of all existing and new users. This session will look at the extent to which current 4G licencing models will still be valid in a 5G world, or whether different approaches to licencing and assignment may be necessary. Exploring the requirements that are likely to be seen and some of the models that are being put forward to meet these, it will examine the different technologies and solutions that are being put forward to provide the connectivity to ensure that countries in the MENA region stays at the forefront of this fast evolving and disruptive technology.

• What new and emerging use cases are going to be enabled by 5G and IoT, and what spectrum requirements are likely to be seen?
• What frequencies and solutions provide the best options to power the next generation of IoT connectivity across different vertical industries and ensure that the MENA region continues to lead the way in this key area?
• What mix of licenced, unlicensed and shared spectrum will be required?
• Can a similar licensing model as has been used for 4G still be relevant in the emerging 5G world, or is there a need for a rethink?
• Can traditional mobile operators provide all the connectivity requirements for 5G and IoT or is there an argument to allow industry stakeholders to build/own/operate their own locally self-controlled wireless networks?

With the demand for spectrum continuing to increase, it is becoming even more important than ever to ensure that the available spectrum is being used as efficiently as possible. This session will look at different options that are being put forward to increase the efficiency of spectrum. It will start with 2 presentations focussing on different technologies and policy tools, before a panel discusses the potential for spectrum sharing – a tool that many feel can play a big part in increasing efficiency

Spectrum sharing is seen as a key regulatory tool for regulators and stakeholders around the world to increase spectrum efficiency across a wide range of different bands. This session will look at some of the latest proposals, techniques and technologies that are being put forward to facilitate spectrum sharing in different bands and at the best way forward to deliver a regulatory framework that encourages spectrum sharing and incentivises incumbents to release or share their spectrum. With the emergence of more sophisticated technology and innovative new authorisation approaches, it will look at the scope for spectrum sharing going forward, and the most appropriate models to deliver this.

– How can both stakeholders be incentivised to share or even give up their spectrum?
– To what extent should spectrum sharing be ‘bidirectional’, with federal entities granted access to non-Federal spectrum on a shared basis as well as the other way around?
– What examples of spectrum sharing are being seen across the MENA region and which models offer the greatest potential?
– What new technologies and solutions offer the best opportunity to help increase the take up of spectrum sharing, and its potential to deliver more efficient sharing models?
– Which bands offer the best options for making additional spectrum available and for sharing?
– How will 5G change the overall environment for spectrum sharing? Can advances in technology and systems help to create more sharing opportunities?
– To what extent can network slicing be a tool to help deliver spectrum sharing?

Spectrum below 6GHz has always formed the back-bone of spectrum portfolios for mobile operators and other connectivity providers. And today, whilst the emergence of new bands in the mmWave frequencies can help to deliver some of the high capacity coverage required for 5G, access to sufficient spectrum in these ‘traditional’ bands is still as important as ever in order to deliver widespread coverage and support all use cases. This session will look at some of the key bands and emerging bandplans in both the low (under 1GHz) and mid (1Ghz – 6Ghz) ranges. It will look at the future shape of bands, and how the emergence of 5G may affect the ways in which they are allocated and awarded, and crucially explore the at the best approaches to ensure that the needs of all users can be met.

– What is the optimal mix of low and mid range spectrum that operators need to deploy traditional base stations?
– Where are we across the region with the allocation of the digital dividend spectrum? For those countries in which the process is still ongoing, should the 700MHz and 800MHz bands be considered together or is a better approach to take them separately?
– Is there need for additional low-range spectrum to be made available for mobile broadband beyond the 700MHz and 800MHa bands (for example 600MHz band), or can these provide sufficient bandwidth?
– Which bands in the 1Ghz – 6Ghz range offer realistic options to help meet these requirements in countries across the Arab region?
– To what extent can bands such as the 3.4Ghz – 3.8Ghz ‘C-Band’, 2.3GHz and 2.6Ghz bands provide an option?
– As we enter the era of 5G, is there any benefit in moving from a paired to an unpaired band plan in any bands (for example 2.6GHz), and what would be the practical and technical considerations associated with this change in approach?
– What measures are required to protect and preserve satellite, PPDR and other key users in low and mid-range bands, and how can it be ensured that the needs of all users are balanced?

The mmWave frequencies are seen as providing some of the most important spectrum for 5G, and particularly for delivering the high capacity coverage that is required in urban areas. This session will look in more detail at the importance of mmWave spectrum for 5G in both the short term and the long term, and at the options that regulators have to provide the spectrum that is required. It will look at what needs to be done to balance the needs of both existing and new users in these frequencies, and assess the optimal timing of award for different bands to help deliver the full benefits of 5G.

– What impact will the outcomes of WRC-19 and decisions made on candidate bands for WRC-23 have on the future mmWave landscape in MENA and around the world?
– What are likely to be the most important mmWave bands for 5G in the short term and in the long term?
– Which bands should be prioritised for release across the region – 26GHz, 39GHz, 66GHz or others?
– What is the best timing for release and how can it be ensured that sufficient spectrum is made available in a timely manner and efficiently as possible?
– To what extent could spectrum above 100Ghz become more important in the longer term?
– How can the needs of mobile and satellite services in the mmWave bands best be met, and to what extent is co-existence a viable option?
– Where are we in terms of the adoption and installation of the massive MIMO technologies that will be crucial for commercial roll-out of 5G in the mmWave frequencies, and how is this likely to affect the requirements for mmWave spectrum in the short term?

Despite a huge amount of money and effort being spent on connecting the unconnected in the Arab world, a considerable Digital Divide still exists both within and between countries in the region. And some say that with the emergence of 5G, the gap between the digital haves and the digital have-nots is widening rather than narrowing. Tackling this issue is a hugely important challenge for regulators and other stakeholders in the region. This session will look at the work that is being done, at the specific challenges of delivering connectivity in sometime very challenging terrains, and at the mix of technologies and solutions that will be required to ensure that the required connectivity infrastructure is in place.

– What tangible progress to narrowing the digital divide in Arab countries has been seen over the past few years?
– How can Governments, regulators ensure that they are truly understanding the connectivity requirements of unconnected areas, and then work with the private sector to meet these?
– What role can fixed wireless access play in delivering connectivity to rural areas, and what mix of other technologies and solutions will also be required?
– How are technology companies, connectivity providers and other key stakeholders collaborating to help connect the unconnected?
– How can it then be ensured that the required resources and investment are available? What incentives can be used to help with this?
– What are the spectrum requirements, and how can it be ensured that access to the necessary bands is available?

A major challenge when rolling out 5G in urban areas is how to achieve the densification of networks that is necessary to deliver the required high system capacity and per-user data rates. And with approximately 70% of 5G use cases expected to occur indoors, connectivity providers & tower companies also need to ensure that a network is in place that delivers these capabilities in an indoor environment. Focussing on these challenges and more, this session will look at best-practice in delivering the urban 5G eco-system.

– What are the major design challenges that are faced when building a 5G network in urban areas and how can these be overcome?
– What will be the best way to deliver the densification of networks that will be necessary to provide the required network connectivity in urban areas and inside large buildings?
– How important will Small Cells be in providing this densification and what other technologies and bandwidths will also play a part?
– With an estimated 70% of all mobile usage happening indoors, how can it be ensured that the required connectivity is delivered inside building as well as on the streets in urban areas?
– What network architecture can be used to meet the requirements and what challenges will the transition to this likely raise and how can it be ensured that the 5G indoor user experience is consistent with that received outdoors?