Abstract
Based on SOFDMA technology, the WiMAX standard 802.16e can deliver mass IP packages under NLOS and mobile circumstances, making it a competitor against 3G technology. However, as many nations have issued 3G licenses, WiMAX operators are facing difficulty gaining bands in the lower spectrum. Besides license costs, band interference, and band range, the market potential of spectrum is also a key consideration for spectrum rearrangement. Japan has been leading the global communications industry. To sustain growth of WiMAX and wireless broadband technologies, Japan is reallocating spectrum to ensure new operators' development and to use existing spectrum more efficiently. This report will analyze Japanese wireless broadband policies and the latest spectrum allocation strategies.
Spectrum Refarming Is Top Priority
Bands allocated for WiMAX technologies still encounter many limitations. Firstly, WiMAX services can operate within the 700MHz - 66GHz band. However, in many countries, this band has been assigned for specific purposes, such as microwave radar, aviation navigation, remote sensing, and satellite communications. There is a limited spectrum left for WiMAX services. Secondly, the transparency of high-frequency bands and the inferior transmission capability and rain fading resistance of microwave has reduced the commercialization value of these bands. Thirdly, due to different spectrum planning and utilization in each country, the inconformity in bands used for WiMAX services is likely to result in problems such as a small R&D scale and insufficient global roaming capability.
Government Aims to Boost WiMAX Service Growth
MIC has been aggressively revising telecom regulations, establishing efficient spectrum management solutions, and developing a license fee standard. These moves indicate MIC's vigorous attempt to make use of bands that have not been utilized efficiently, and pave the way for next generation mobile broadband services and 4G services.
Spectrum is a scarce public resource. MIC's strategy to open bands for WiMAX services will have a great impact on telecom players. As only 70MHz bandwidth in the 2.5GHz band is secured for WiMAX services, it will be insufficient for use in highly populated regions. However, with MIC's spectrum refarming policy, the future development of mobile broadband services is expected to grow further.
Appendix
Glossary of Terms
|
BWA |
|
Broadband Wireless Access |
|
FDD |
|
Frequency Division Duplex |
|
FWA |
|
Fixed Wireless Access |
|
ITS |
|
Intelligent Traffic Systems |
|
NLOS |
|
Non-Line-of-Sight |
|
NWA |
|
Nomadic Wireless Access |
|
RFID |
|
Radio Frequency Identification |
|
SOFDMA |
|
Scalable Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access |
|
TDD |
|
Time Division Duplex |
|
UWB |
|
Ultra Wideband |
|
WiMAX |
|
Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access |
|
WLAN |
|
Wireless Local Area Network |
List of Companies
|
eAccess |
|
|
|
KDDI |
|
|
|
Livedoor |
|
|
|
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications |
|
|
|
NTT DoCoMo |
|
|
|
Softbank |
|
|
|
TU-KA |
|
|
|
Vodafone |
|
|
|
Willcom |
|
|
|
Yozan |
|
|