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Today we are releasing Allnet's August 2016 Mobile Carrier - Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool. Below are the transactions that are reflected in this update.
Granted Assignments (Assigning Ownership from Assignor to Assignee)
Granted New Licenses Issues (From the FCC to Assignee):
Granted Leases (Leased to Assignee from Assignor):
New Pending Assignments (Assigning Ownership from Assignor to Assignee)
Pending Leases (Leased to Assignee from Assignor):Granted Leases (Leased to Assignee from Assignor):
To properly reflect the upcoming 600MHz spectrum in our Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool we created a band plan that details the spectrum that will be available for markets based upon the spectrum cleared. The Uplink and Downlink Allocations chart provides the best visualization of how the uplink and downlink spectrum increase as the cleared spectrum increases. This image indicates how uplink channels in high channel availability markets will be operating in the downlink spectrum of low channel availability markets. In addition it demonstrates that in the 8-12 channel markets, channels that are contiguous in the uplink spectrum, may be discontiguous in the downlink spectrum due to the Channel 37 quiet zone and its guard bands. You can also note that the channel adjacent to the 700 MHz A-Block spectrum will not be consistent since it will be tied to the spectrum clearing targets. For example, New York (10 channel) could have Channel J adjacent to the 700 MHz A-Block while Los Angeles (5 channel) would have Channel E adjacent to the 700MHz A-Block.
600 MHz Uplink and Downlink Allocations:
With this blog post, I want to uncover the details behind a specific set of spectrum transactions that AT&T and T-Mobile filed in October 2015. These transactions were finalized on April 2, 2016. The purpose of these spectrum transactions was to allow each carrier to increase the size of their LTE channels either in the PCS frequency band or the AWS frequency band. This is typically accomplished by either swapping the operating frequency blocks within a market or by acquiring additional spectrum in a market by providing needed spectrum to the other carrier in a different market.
This analysis is extracted from Allnet Insights Web Tool's Transaction Summary which is used to update the current spectrum operator and future spectrum operator in Allnet's Spectrum Database and Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool.
First we will look at the spectrum transaction where T-Mobile is assigning spectrum to AT&T.
Complete Call Signs:
This is a list of the call signs including frequency blocks, and channel blocks that T-Mobile is assigning completely to AT&T. It should be noted that although a market is indicated, you cannot assume that the call sign included all of the counties in that market area.
Spectrum Dis-aggregated from Complete Call Signs by Frequency:
This list represents call signs where T-Mobile is only assigning a portion of the call sign's spectrum to AT&T. In this case, T-Mobile is assigning only the upper 5 MHz of the AWS A channel block to AT&T. They will retain ownership of the lower 5 MHz.
Spectrum Dis-aggregated by County:
This list represents call signs where T-Mobile is only assigning a portion of the call sign's spectrum to AT&T. In this case, T-Mobile is assigning only the listed counties from the call sign to AT&T.
Spectrum Dis-aggregated by County and by Frequency:
This list represents call signs where T-Mobile is only assigning a portion of the call sign's spectrum to AT&T. In this case, T-Mobile is assigning only a portion of the spectrum in the identified counties to AT&T.
Now, we will look at the spectrum transaction where AT&T is assigning spectrum to T-Mobile:
Complete Call Signs:
This is a list of the call signs including frequency blocks, and channel blocks that AT&T is assigning completely to T-Mobile. It should be noted that although a market is indicated, you cannot assume that the call sign included all of the counties in that market area.
Spectrum Dis-aggregated by County:
This list represents call signs where AT&T is only assigning a portion of the call sign's spectrum to T-Mobile. In this case, AT&T is assigning only the listed counties from the call sign to T-Mobile.
Spectrum Dis-aggregated by County and by Frequency:
This list represents call signs where AT&T is only assigning a portion of the call sign's spectrum to T-Mobile. In this case, AT&T is assigning only a portion of the spectrum in the identified counties to T-Mobile.
With the June 2015 version of our Excel - Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tools, Allnet Insights has updated MHz-POPs modules to include national and county MHz-POPs values for up to 8 selected carriers. In the screenshot below, Verizon's MHz-POPs are detailed by band class (low, mid, high) and by frequency block at a county-level. In addition, the county values are summed to provide a total MHz-POPs value along with the band class and frequency block values at a national-level.
Allnet Insights has also added a MHz-POPs summary page which facilitates comparing each selected carriers' national spectrum numbers. The screenshot below is from the Small Cell Backhaul (millimeter wave) version of the Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool.
In this post I wanted to look at another source of FCC license data that many industry observers use to determine where carriers are licensed and what spectrum they control. Spectrum Omega allows the user to select a specific frequency block (AWS F block is shown in the map below). A map of the original license market boundaries is then shown, along with a listing of the of the wireless carriers that control AWS F block licenses in this market area. When the original market license was issued only one carrier would be listed for each license, so with 3 carriers listed below the user could conclude that only 3 carriers are licensed for the AWS F block frequencies for the Central Regional Economic Area (REA-005). It is true that these are 3 of the carriers licensed for the REA-005 market but there are two additional licensed carriers that are not indicated, Rolling Hills Communications (Massena Telephone), and West Iowa Wireless.
Spectrum Omega is only linking to 3 of the call signs (highlighted below in yellow) in this market for the AWS F block, it is not referencing either of the Rolling Hills call signs, the West Iowa call sign, or the second Cellco (Verizon) call sign.
If you are looking for a geographic breakdown for each carrier's licenses, you can click on the carrier's name in the Market Ownership bubble and you are taken to the FCC ULS page where you can decipher the 667 counties that are part of the T-Mobile license. You need to be very careful looking through this list because a portion of the T-Mobile license doesn't include the entire F block. The spectrum for these Iowa counties is split between T-Mobile and Iowa Wireless.
If you look back at the market ownership bubble on the map above, you can note that I Wireless only operates lower half of the AWS F block channel, but T-Mobile's half channel isn't noted.
How does this market look in Allnet's Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool?
First, we have mapped broken the spectrum into a F1 and F2 channel to track ownership of the lower block or the upper block. The first map below indicates the carrier ownership of the lower block. You can see the Iowa portion of this block that is not licensed to T-Mobile. In addition, you can see Verizon's ownership of the South Dakota counties, clearly.
In the second map, we depict the upper AWS F block ownership which indicates that T-Mobile is licensed for all of the Iowa counties.
In Allnet's Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool we utilize a Spectrum Grid to display the spectrum owners at a county level. Below you can see how the AWS F channel is broken into two blocks and the Iowa counties indicated are shared between T-Mobile (TMO), Iowa Wireless (IWS), and Massena Telephone (MS3).
I think that the danger in utilizing Spectrum Omega for spectrum research, is that it seems to provide a clear picture, but it is missing many of the details which could affect the situation that you are analyzing.
I am still getting calls from customers that that see discrepancies between Allnet's spectrum ownership data and the FCC Spectrum Dashboard. Although the FCC Spectrum Dashboard data is free, it doesn't reflect any spectrum changes that have been completed since 07/2014. For these customers, I will typically walk through the transactions that have changed the spectrum ownership picture for the area or frequency they have targeted. Below is a query for the 700 MHz A-block owner in Los Angeles, CA. This spectrum moved from Verizon to T-Mobile on 5/1/2014, so it is correctly reflected in the Spectrum Dashboard data.
To see how updates are not being reflected for spectrum transaction dated after 7/2014, lets look at the Anchorage, AK 700 MHz A-Block. The Spectrum Dashboard indicates that this spectrum is still owned by Triad 700. This spectrum was assigned to T-Mobile on 12/17/2014 and a second assignment of this spectrum to Alaska Wireless Network was just approved last week.
In summary, when free data is wrong, it is worth NOTHING.
Recently Allnet Insights compiled the video broadcasting status for the mid-band 2.5 GHz spectrum for every US BTA. The map below indicates whether Sprint will be able to utilize the mid-band channels in particular markets. In the red Base Trading Area (BTA) markets below, Sprint is restricted from utilizing the channels in the mid-band segment (MBS) because high power video operations remain on channels within this band. This restricts access to 42 MHz of the 188 MHz of spectrum available in the EBS/BRS (2.5 GHz) spectrum. In many markets, Sprint owns or leases nearly 160 MHz of this spectrum. So including these restrictions, effectively reduce Sprint's usable spectrum holdings to 120 MHz in these markets. Video operations limit Sprint's spectrum in all of the Top 20 markets except Seattle. The video operators in each of these markets have broadcasting sites and receiving antennas distributed schools and churches through out the broadcasting cities.
Recall that the entire 2.5 GHz spectrum band previous to 2006 was utilized for video broadcasts, either wireless cable or educational video broadcasts. As Clearwire began to utilize this band, they moved the remaining video broadcasters to the mid-band. Below you can see how a licensee with the A1, A2, A3, and A4 channels would receive 3 - 5.5MHz channels in the low band segment (LBS) which would be used for LTE while the A4 channel would be shifted to the mid-band segment as a 6 MHz channel. A licensee with the G1, G2, G3, and G4 channels would receive 3 - 5.5MHz channels in the UBS (upper band segment) and the G4 channel would be shifted to the mid-band segment again as a 6 MHz channel.
There has been a lot of focus recently in the 24, 28, 31, and 39 GHz spectrum as the wireless industry turns its attention toward 5G. The FCC is also looking at the following bands through in their Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz For Mobile Radio Services proceeding.
The 24, 28, 31, and 39 GHz bands are the only bands that have already been licensed to carriers, although many of those licenses have lapsed. Allnet’s Small Cell Backhaul – Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool details the ownership in these bands down to the county-level for the entire US. We detail the callsign, lessee, and the future operator of the spectrum if spectrum has a pending transfer or pending lease.
Fierce Wireless recently published our maps indicating the markets where XO has LMDS spectrum (28 and 31 GHz) or 39 GHz spectrum. In addition to providing outputs that can be geographically mapped, our Small Cell Backhaul – Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool has 4 analysis modules which provide key insights into the ownership of these “new” spectrum blocks.
Spectrum Grid:
The Spectrum Grid is a visual chart where you can see the owner of each block of spectrum. For this chart the following carriers are notable:
24G and LMDS A:
LMDS B and 39 GHz:
County Analysis:
The County Analysis Module provides a summary of the spectrum owned for eight user selected carriers. The spectrum holdings for these eight carriers are presented slide by slide for each spectrum band.
Company Profile:
The Company Profile Module provides a complete profile of each selected carriers spectrum profile, by spectrum band.
CMA Market Analysis:
The CMA Market Analysis Module rolls our county-level spectrum ownership data up to a market level so spectrum holdings can be evaluated for an entire cellular market area (CMA). This module also highlights markets where spectrum positions may be strong or weak for a specific carrier.
email us at: info@allnetinsights.com to request a copy of the above map
Our most recent posts have looked at the low band spectrum that T-Mobile is accumulating, the 700 MHz A-Block. To see the low band spectrum that AT&T has typically deployed for LTE, we need to look at the 700 MHz B-block and 700 MHz C-block. With the B-block spectrum, it is clear that AT&T is visually the dominant spectrum holder. When looking at the licensed population data, this is true as well.
AT&T dominates the licensed population (POPS) numbers as well, accounting for 274 million of the 312 million US States and Territories population. These population numbers relate to the 2010 Census. C Spire with 1.4 million licensed POPS and US Cellular (23 million) both have significant spectrum in their regional operations area with the 700 MHz B Block spectrum.
email us at: info@allnetinsights.com to request a copy of the above map
With the C-block spectrum, AT&T dominates the west coast and southeast but gives way to USCellular and other regional operators in the midwest.
Looking at the licensed population numbers, AT&T has about 15 million more licensed POPS with their C block spectrum than their B block spectrum. While USCellular has significantly less C block spectrum (6.8 million POPS compared to 22 million POPS). It is also apparent that T-Mobile has very limited ownership of B-block spectrum (262,000 POPS) and C-block spectrum (119,000 POPS). Clearly AT&T has the ability to combine their B and C block channels in many markets to create a 10x10 LTE channel. We will include a map in a future blog detailing AT&T's total 700 MHz (A/B/C) spectrum holdings as well as USCellular's total 700 MHz (A/B/C) spectrum holdings.
In December, Dish announced the 3GPP approval of a new LTE band. Band 66 doesn't cover all of Dish's AWS2, AWS3, and AWS4 spectrum. It only covers the paired AWS3 spectrum and Dish's upper AWS4 band. Below are a couple of screen grabs from our Mobile Carrier - Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool where we reference the LTE Bands on our Spectrum Grid. I have included the New York CMA counties and Los Angeles so you can see who owns these bands in the largest markets. The Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool has this level of detail for every US county. Since Band 66 is the only band that covers the entire AWS3 band, it is likely that AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will deploy networks and handsets using this band. It is a huge bonus for Dish that part of their AWS4 spectrum is within the band.
Most wireless carrier assessments are focused on the spectrum depth that each carrier controls. This is typically indicated by the number of MHz that a carrier controls (owns) either in a county or a market. Many evaluations are focused on the total MHz that a carrier owns although our Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool and National Carrier reports break the spectrum depth down by both frequency band (700, Cellular, PCS, AWS, WCS, and EBS/BRS) as well as low-band, mid-band, and high-band. The band breakdowns are important because different bands have better or worse performance for coverage or in-building penetration. Understanding each carriers strengths or weakness for that criteria is important. In addition, since each carrier's LTE deployments have been targeted in specific frequency bands, the frequency band spectrum depth is an important metric to indicate the potential LTE channel size.
LTE Effective Spectrum is a much better indication of a carrier's usable spectrum depth than straight spectrum depth. LTE Effective Spectrum is the sum of the spectrum used by all of a carrier's potential LTE channels. We calculate each carrier's available LTE channels in our Mobile Carrier - Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool by evaluating the contiguous spectrum that each carrier has in each frequency band.. In the tool, we detail the available LTE channels within each frequency band, but below we simplify the analysis here by listing only the quantity each channel size (5x5, 10x10,...). These LTE channel counts are provided at a CMA market level. To calculate the Effective LTE Spectrum value each of the channel widths (MHz) are summed. For Verizon in the Los Angeles CMA, four 10x10 channels and one 20x20 channel works out to: 4 x 10 + 4 x 10 + 1 x 20 + 1 x 20 = 120 MHz. Each channel is listed twice to reflect both transmit and receive (FDD) spectrum.
As you compare Verizon's Total Spectrum with their Effective LTE Spectrum at a market level, it is apparent that roughly 6% of Verizon's spectrum is not deployable for LTE. For Verizon, this lost spectrum relates to 2.5 MHz slices of cellular spectrum and 1 MHz slices of 700 MHz spectrum.
As you compare AT&T's Total Spectrum with their Effective LTE Spectrum at a market level, it is apparent that a much larger portion of AT&T's spectrum is not deployable for LTE. AT&T loses between 15% and 22% of there Total Spectrum on a market basis. This lost spectrum primarily relates the WCS spectrum (10MHz) AT&T dedicated as a guard band for satellite audio, along with 2.5 MHz slices of cellular spectrum and 1 MHz slices of 700 MHz spectrum.
As you compare T-Mobile's Total Spectrum with their Effective LTE Spectrum at a market level, it is apparent that very little of T-Mobile's spectrum is not deployable for LTE. T-Mobile typically loses 2% of their Total Spectrum on a market basis. This lost spectrum relates to the 6 MHz channels of 700 MHz spectrum only being used for 5x5 LTE. There are specific markets (San Diego @ 9%) where T-Mobile controls a 12.5 MHz channel which can only be deployed as a 10x10 LTE channel effectively losing ability to use the remaining 2.5 MHz unless a new acquisition would add adjacent spectrum.
We have left the analysis of Sprint's Lost Spectrum for another time because Sprint's combination of TDD and FDD spectrum makes their analysis significantly more complicated.
These charts reflect the Future data set from Allnet Insight's Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool (February 2016 Version).
T-Mobile was quite active during the last quarter of 2015 closing deals to acquire low band (700 MHz A and B Block) spectrum. Green areas in the map above reflect areas where T-Mobile controls 12 MHz of spectrum providing for a 5x5 LTE channel. The Blue areas in North Dakota reflect T-Mobile ownership of both the A and B block, enabling the deployment of a 10x10 LTE channel. Below are the transactions that were announced during this time period:
It should be noted that during this same time period, T-Mobile assigned their 700 MHz A-Block spectrum in Alaska to Alaska Wireless Networks. T-Mobile had acquired this spectrum from Triad 700 in late 2014.
Using the 2010 Census Population for each of the US Counties, it can be seen that T-Mobile has over 200 million licensed pops (Population) where they have enough spectrum for a 5x5 low band channel, and 10 thousand pops where they have enough spectrum for a 10x10 low band channel. The 2010 Census set the total US population (states, districts, and territories) at 312 million.
This map and these transactions reflect the Future data set from Allnet Insight's Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool (January 2016 Version).
How much backhaul capacity do you provide to each cell site for each 10MHz of LTE spectrum?
225 Mbps should be provided for each 10MHz of spectrum (75Mbps per sector)to prevent backhaul from creating a bottleneck.
What percentage of your sites utilize Verizon facilities for backhaul versus alternative backhaul providers?
Verizon has a significant cost advantage in the markets where they provide local telephone service by using internal resources for cell site backhaul.
What is your average monthly backhaul cost per cell site ($/Mbps) for the site using an alternative backhaul provider?
Locations where Verizon utilizes an alternative backhaul provider, the site expense for backhaul will begin to dominate the network cost of service. With the move to data, the site lease (average $1500/mo) is dominated by the backhaul lease ($8000/mo). This becomes more painful as you consider the need for doubling data capacity which could then double your site backhaul expense.
How do you account for the backhaul assets that are provided from your wireline subsidiaries to your wireless business? Are there any charge backs or internal bills based upon usage or capacity?
Now that Verizon has purchased Vodofone’s interest, this is less of an issue. However, concerns still arise that wireline assets are not properly valued for the benefit they provide the wireless business.
Are you deploying RRH (Remote Radio Head) technology? To what percentage of your sites?
Verizon has been the quietest of the national carriers on their plans to deploy RRH technology. It would make sense for Verizon to deploy RRH technology for their AWS and PCS LTE sectors so those sectors can have more similar coverage to their low band (700 MHz) sectors. In markets where Verizon is building an extensive small cell network uses their AWS and PCS frequencies, they will likely not use the RRH technology within the small cell network area.
What percentage of your sites are you converting to RRH (remote radio head) technology?
RRH technology takes radios that typically have been at ground level and places them on the towers behind the antennas. The RRH technology is useful in providing better coverage for the higher frequency spectrum. For AT&T, RRH technology would help mitigate the coverage differential between 700MHz and PCS, 700MHz and AWS, and 700MHz and WCS. If low band coverage (700MHz) were represented by a quarter, and mid band coverage (PCS) by a dime; moving the PCS channel to RRH technology would make the PCS coverage grow to the size of a nickel. This would allow AT&T to have similar capacity across a larger amount of their coverage.
Are you using RRH technology only for your high band spectrum or all spectrum except low band?
Applying RRH technology to low band spectrum in rural areas would fill in coverage holes but increasing coverage in urban areas with RRH technology would increase interference.
What percentage of your customers have a device that will operate on 700 MHz (band 17), AWS (band 4), and WCS (band 30)?
The iPhone 6s has an available version that supports the WCS band, but since not all of AT&T’s customers have a phone that supports their entire LTE spectrum, network coverage and capacity enhancements will not be experienced by the entire user base.
How much back haul capacity do you provide to each cell site for each 10 MHz of LTE spectrum?
To prevent back haul from being a bottleneck, 225 Mbps should be provided for each 10 MHz of spectrum (75Mbps per sector).
What is your average monthly back haul cost per cell site ($/Mbps)?
Site back haul costs would surprise many in the analyst community. When sites only supported voice calls, site leases (land and tower) dominated the operations expense. With the move to data, the site lease (average $1500/mo) is dominated by the back haul lease ($8000/mo). This becomes more painful as you consider the need for doubling data capacity which could then double your site back haul expense.
We are excited to work again with Fierce Wireless to provide their readers with insights into each of the National Carriers deployable spectrum for LTE. As Fierce Wireless indicated in their article, the today's version of the Download Spectrum Maps indicate each carrier's LTE spectrum that would be usable by the latest iPhone 6s. We provided Fierce Wireless with maps indicating downlink spectrum totals for each carrier.
We have created additional maps for each carrier which detail their spectrum LTE channel capabilities for each of their deployable spectrum blocks. You can receive a copy of the 13 map set by emailing info@allnetinsights.com or by signing up for our monthly newsletter at the bottom of our home page (www.allnetinsights.com).
Verizon's LTE spectrum holdings are detailed below:
We also took into account that Verizon is beginning to deploy some of their PCS spectrum for LTE. If Verizon had 20 MHz of PCS spectrum we assumed they would deploy 10 MHz for LTE and if they had 15 MHz of PCS spectrum we assumed they would deploy 5 MHz for LTE. The remainder of the PCS spectrum will continue to be used for voice capacity. If Verizon controlled both blocks of the cellular spectrum, all of their PCS spectrum was available for LTE deployment and if Verizon did not own either block of cellular spectrum, none of their PCS spectrum was available for LTE.
We are proud to announce the release of our September 2015 Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool. In this release we have updated our data set to include the following August spectrum transactions among others:
Additionally with the September 2015 Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool, we have added the Channel Block analysis module. This module will detail spectrum holdings for an individual carrier by individual channels. Previously, we have provided analysis modules which detail spectrum holdings by frequency band (700MHz, SMR/Cellular, PCS, AWS, WCS, and BRS/EBS), by band class (Low Band, Mid Band, and High Band), and by LTE band (Band 12, Band 17, Band 5) The new Channel Block analysis module provides the reader with a clear understand of what spectrum is held in a county. This is organized by specific colored channel block.
These graphs detail the peak capacity for downlink files and streaming video for the four major national wireless carriers plus Dish and USCellular. They illustrate the peak capacity on a market-by-market basis. In creating the graphs, I anticipate the usage of each wireless carrier’s total spectrum available, not just the spectrum they have dedicated to LTE at this time. These graphs allow you to see the significant capacity advantage that Sprint will have once they deploy their 2.5GHz spectrum. They also provide a market-by-market comparison of AT&T and Verizon capacity. You can see that AT&T has a capacity advantage versus Verizon in all Top 20 markets except Minneapolis-St. Paul. In addition, you can see the relatively low capacity that T-Mobile is able to offer and the capacity that Dish could provide after they launch a network.
I was able to construct these graphs by using Allnet Insights and Analytics Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool determine the number of LTE channels that each carrier’s spectrum can support.
Assuming that each LTE channel had the follow achievable LTE Peak Data Rates:
These rates were applied to each of the carriers LTE channels to create a total peak downlink throughput. For all EBS/BRS spectrum (Sprint’s 2.5GHz spectrum), I assumed TDD (Time Division Duplex) LTE operation and each channel’s throughput was reduced to 75% to reflect the 75:25 downlink to uplink ratio for TDD operation. TDD LTE utilizes a single radio channel to both transmit to the mobile device (downlink) and transmit from the mobile device (uplink). In TDD LTE timeslots, similar to the wedges on the Wheel of Fortune, carry either downlink traffic or uplink traffic during that time interval. Since internet traffic is typically 75% downlink and 25% uplink, US operators dedicate 75% of the wedges to downlink and 25% to uplink. Most US spectrum bands are configured for FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) LTE, which utilizes two radio channels, one to transmit to the mobile device (downlink), and one to transmit from the mobile device (uplink).
For this issue of “How does our data compare?” we will look at the following statement from Andy Levin’s blog. Andy is T-Moble’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs.
"AT&T’s practice of making promises it cannot keep is matched only by its ability to make claims that cannot withstand scrutiny. In the run-up to the 600 MHz auction, for instance, AT&T has derided the spectrum reserve as a “set aside” that “picks winners and losers.”
The claim is laughable: if the reserve is a set-aside, it is a set-aside that AT&T or Verizon can claim in nearly three-quarters of the country. The map below shows the markets where AT&T or Verizon can purchase all the spectrum blocks available in the upcoming 600 MHz auction."
AT&T Plays a Broken Record of Broken Promises – Andy Levin, T-Mobile, Sr VP, Government Affairs
Using Allnet Insights’ Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool we are able to evaluate AT&T and Verizon’s low band spectrum ownership for all US Partial Economic Area (PEA) markets. We then created a geographic map. This map graphed 4 categories:
The purple areas from Allnet Insights’ map match the white areas from T-Mobile’s map with the exception of a rural PEA in northern Montana. These areas represent the PEA markets that both AT&T and Verizon will be limited in the ability to acquire addition low band spectrum. Clearly from Allnet Insights’ map you can see that there are many additional markets where either AT&T or Verizon is limited, but not both.
The AT&T LTE Channel Band 12 Map is part of a series of 23 maps, which geographically describe the data speed capabilities of the national wireless carriers, including DISH. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. LTE is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. The LTE standard covers a range of many different bands, each of which is designated by both a frequency and a band number.
You can think of each of these bands as a highway number that a wireless carrier first needs to build into their network, and needs to enable in each of their smartphones. For example, AT&T would add radios to their cell sites for their 700MHz spectrum1, enabling Band 12, and they would provide an iPhone 6, also supporting Band 12, to their customers. 2
Every telecommunication company has their own information about their service areas and how why they are better than the competition. But how can you determine each carrier’s maximum LTE capability? This is a multi-million dollar question and the answer lies with independent and accurate analysis of each individual national carrier’s LTE coverage. In the featured AT&T LTE Channel Band 12 Map, the channel sizes are delineated between 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. The larger channel sizes correspond to faster data speeds. Also included with the channel maps are licensed population breakdowns indicating the licensed population in a specific channel size for the entire US and for the Top 100 CMA Markets.
Allnet Insights & Analytics offer similar maps for each of the wireless carriers, giving you the critical information you require to manage your wireless business with confidence.
1A wireless operators’ most valuable resource is Spectrum. Spectrum is divided into non-overlapping spectrum bands, which are assigned to different cells. Knowing the ownership of the current spectrum for all the mobile carriers and satellite frequency bands would obviously be a high priority. Whereas this information is available, it can be difficult to interpret.
That’s why we developed the Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool . This powerful, Excel based tool allows users to visualize and analyze the current spectrum ownership for all of the mobile carriers and satellite frequency bands down to a county level.
2AT&T would actually deploy Band 17 which is a subset of Band 12. We used Band 12 for all of the maps to allow easier comparison between wireless carriers using the same spectrum bands. If you were to look at the iPhone specification you would see the corresponding support of Band 17.
