2. Telecommunications Spectrum Policy and Planning Regional Workshop on Efficiency of the Frequency Spectrum Use in the Arab Region 5 – 7 December 2011
Mohamed Mahmood
Technical & Operations Director
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)

3. Agenda 1
Telecommunications Spectrum Policy and Planning issued in June 2006
National Spectrum Planning and Allocation Policy issued in October 2008
Next steps 2 3

4. Designing guidelines for spectrum policy Drafting frequency policy1
We developed the full spectrum policy over 9 months
Aug ’05
start
Nov ’05
consultation
June ’06 publication
Ongoing 1 2 3 4
Designing guidelines for spectrum policy
Public Consultation
Drafting frequency policy
Execution of policy
Existing allocation and procedures
Future demand based on new users and technologies
Key issues, constraints and spectrum conflicts
Best practices in other markets
Policy framework
Consultation document drafting and publication
High success and response rate from a variety of stakeholders from Bahrain and overseas: government, equipment manufacturers, telcos, ISPs etc
Review of the responses
Drafting and publication of national spectrum policy plan
included number of licences by band, licensing award mechanism, new spectrum pricing etc
New licences granted:
Two licenses in the band 3.4 – 3.6 GHz
Mobile licence to STC (VIVA)
Process for introducing new technologies :
One licence in the GSM 1800 Guard band
New licensing regimes (light licensing) – 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

5. Execution of the 2006 policy Execution of policy1
Execution of the 2006 policy
Execution of policy
Spectrum bands
3.4 – 3.6
GHz
900, 1800, 2100 MHz
1785 – 1805 MHz
2.4 & 5 GHz 2 1 1
Zain Bahrain, BD 5.5 Million Mena Telecom, BD 5.5 Million
(Auction in Dec 2006)
VIVA Bahrain, BD 84 Million
(Auction in March 2009)
Bahrain Broadband
BD 50,000
(Auction in July 2009)
light licensing regime – free, available to all

6. 2
National Spectrum Planning and Allocation Policy issued in October 2008
National Spectrum and Allocation Policy
International Cooperation
Spectrum Charges and Fees
Monitoring, Enforcement and Control
Radio communications Licensing
Frequency Assignment
Spectrum Engineering
Planning and Allocation

7. Planning and Allocation2
Creation of Spectrum Strategy and Coordination Committee (SSCC)
An updated National Frequency Plan for the Kingdom of Bahrain in May 2009
Planning and Allocation
Creation of International Panning Group under the SSCC (i.e. WRC)
Initial positions of the Kingdom of Bahrain on WRC-12 agenda items
International Cooperation

8. 2
Responsible for providing views and advices on topics related to national, regional and international radio spectrum
Has members from the TRA, security agencies, Civil Aviation Affairs, Sea Ports and Information Affairs Authority.
Objectives of the SSCC

9. 2
Creation of LTE Working Group under the SSCC, chaired by TRA Bahrain
Review LTE requirements
Determine the spectrum availability
Review existing systems operating in the ‘preferred’ international LTE bands
Review possible alternatives as well as the optimum means and time scale for migration
Consider the development of LTE-Advanced systems
Work on LTE

10. 3
Next Steps: TRA issued a major spectrum management consultation document in December 2009
Dec ’09
Feb ’ 2010 1 2 3 4
Public Consultation
14 responses received
Next steps
Expected outcomes
Current and future requirements
Spectrum management
Spectrum rights and licensing
Migration
Financial compensations
Examples:
Digital dividend
790 – 862 MHz
2.3 GHz
2.6 GHz
Mobile operators in Bahrain
Two international Satellite Operators
International Trade Association
National Association
Manufacturing industry
Review the responses
Issue a report on the Reponses
Draft “SPECTRUM RELEASE PLAN” will be prepared and then discussed at the SSCC level.
MIGRATION and COMPENSATION regimes
SPECTRUM RELEASE PLAN
Frequency bands
Timeframe
Licensing mechanism

11. TRA Office Tel. 17 52 0000 Consumer Line 80088888 www. tra. org
TRA Office Tel Consumer Line