Search Results for: "International Telecommunications Society"

A few weeks ago, in “Telecom professional development”, I described a series of upcoming webinars, including one coming up next week that looks at the issue of regulating space.

On February 18, 2025 [at 9:30 am Eastern], the International Telecommunications Society is hosting Satellite Technology and the Future of Space Regulation. This webinar is free and will feature Professor Rob Frieden of Penn State University Law.

Last year, I wrote about cellular and satellite convergence, as low earth orbit companies like AST-Space Mobile and SpaceX Starlink began offering direct-to-cellular device connectivity, bridging gaps in coverage in remote and rural areas.

What is the legal framework to govern activities beyond traditional national borders?

How do we navigate complex, and sometimes conflicting, international treaties and national space regulations? Are there jurisdictional gaps and inconsistent space policies across countries that demand resolution?

Space-based technologies involve billions of dollars of capital investment. As operations expand around the globe, the private sector is already taking significant technology risks. With an opportunity to offer connectivity with satellite and other non-terrestrial communications technologies in rural and remote areas, operators of these systems need more regulatory certainty. What standards should guide behavior in space? What agency (and under what authority) will enforce these standards? How should the global community respond to non-compliant states or rogue actors in the private sector?

The February 18 webinar will attempt to address these questions. Professor Frieden will discuss the major international treaties shaping space law: from space safety and debris management to liability in space, along with other jurisdictional issues. The session aims to explore the interaction between these treaties and domestic policies, looking at the challenges for private sector entities and governments in the satellite communications space.

The objective is to identify strategies for regulating space, driving increased certainty, as we technology ventures toward the stars.

I look forward to seeing you online February 18, at 9:30am (Eastern).

For the past few years, I have been a supporter of the professional development opportunities from the International Telecommunications Society. The organization offers a number of complimentary webinars with speakers and researchers from around the world sharing their expertise. The sessions cover current topics of interest for professionals concerned about issues relevant to the digital economy.

Here are the first three scheduled for 2015:

• January 28, 2025: Broadband and Climate Action: Why Digital Policy is Climate Policy. This session includes Professor Dr. Monika Köppl-Turyna (EcoAustria), Dr. Wolfgang Briglauer (EcoAustria) and Joe Rowsell (TELUS) to explore how telecom can drive climate action.
  As the climate changes, broadband technology has emerged as a powerful, untapped resource for driving down carbon emissions across industries and communities. Yet, despite its vast potential to transform our approach to energy use and efficiency, the climate benefits of broadband are often overlooked.
• February 18, 2025: Satellite Technology and the Future of Space Regulation. This webinar will feature distinguished guest speaker Professor Rob Frieden (Penn State University).
  As countries and private sector entities race to capitalize on the potential of space, the need for a solid legal framework to govern activities beyond Earth has become urgent. Navigating the complex and often conflicting landscape of international and domestic space regulations is challenging, especially with jurisdictional gaps and inconsistent space policies across countries.
• March 25, 2025: Digital Connectivity and Urban Mobility: The Future of MaaS and Autonomous Vehicles. Featured guest speakers include prominent Canadian academics Dr. Betsy Donald (Queens U) and Dr. Shauna Brail (U Toronto) and award-winning journalist John Lorinc.
  As cities face mounting pressure from population growth, traffic congestion, and climate change, how can digital technologies fundamentally reshape urban mobility systems to address these challenges? The future of transportation isn’t just about moving people more efficiently—it’s about rethinking the very infrastructure that defines how cities operate.

Each webinar starts at 9:30am (Eastern) and is scheduled for an hour.

Why not start your year off with a plan for ongoing professional development? See you online at these sessions.

Is it possible that ISED got it right? As Canada’s 3800 MHz auction closed yesterday, it appears that ISED’s use of “caps” (as contrasted with spectrum set-asides) may have contributed to an auction that kept prices internationally competitive.

The total money raised in the auction was $2.16B, far below the Bay Street financial analysts expected range of $4B – $10B. The average cost per Mhz-pop was $0.29, more than 60% lower than Scotiabank’s pre-auction estimate of $0.70. As I wrote earlier this week, the $0.29 is in line with Australia’s recent auction which worked out to C$0.26 per MHz-pop.

Recall that only 2 years ago, the 3500 MHz auction raised $8.9B, with an average cost of $3.28 per MHz-pop.

With significantly higher costs of capital, financial analysts were expecting bidding to be lower, but the results came in significantly lower than expected. BMO Capital Markets called it “A much more disciplined auction.” Scotiabank said “Finally a spectrum auction that does not break the bank”. TD Securities said, “In short, we are delighted with the outcome of the auction. Each of Rogers, Bell, TELUS, and Quebecor spent materially less than what we and the Street had expected in this mid-band auction.” A note from National Bank credits the cross-band spectrum cap and more available spectrum.

The lower spectrum cost means carriers will be in a better position to invest in physical infrastructure.

A number of carriers released statements last night:

• Bell: Bell secures the most 5G+ spectrum nationwide with acquisition of 3800 MHz licenses
• Cogeco: 3800 MHz spectrum auction: Cogeco acquires 99 licenses in Québec and Ontario
• Rogers: Rogers Acquires 3800 MHz 5G Spectrum Across Canada
• Sasktel: SaskTel invests $10.2 million to acquire 3800 MHz wireless spectrum as part of its mission to deliver advanced 5G connectivity to customers across Saskatchewan
• TELUS: TELUS secures critically important 3800 MHz spectrum licences, unleashing the full potential of 5G
• Videotron: 3800 MHz wireless spectrum auction – Quebecor and Videotron invest nearly $300 million to move forward with Canadian expansion

Reading these, we might conclude that ISED got it right.

In any case, remember, there is a free webinar from the International Telecommunications Society next Thursday (December 7): “Optimizing spectrum auctions”. See you there!

What approach should governments follow for optimizing spectrum auctions?

Access to spectrum is vital for modern digital communications. Radio frequencies are essential for smartphones connectivity, access to the Cloud, the Internet of Things, as well as potential use cases in autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence.

Governments use auctions in order to allocate radio spectrum to companies efficiently; these auctions have a significant impact on innovation, economic well-being, and government revenues.

Let’s take a look at the results of the 3500MHz auctions in Australia and Canada. Last week, Australia’s auction concluded, raising just under AUS$725M (roughly C$650M). Similar spectrum was auctioned in Canada 2 years ago, raising C$8.9B – more than 13 times the amount. Canadian carriers paid C$3.28 per MHz-pop; Australia’s auction worked out to C$0.26 per MHz-pop.

Canadian carriers paid billions of dollars in higher spectrum fees than their Australian counterparts. Had Canada’s auction been structured to optimize increased infrastructure investment instead of driving government revenues, what would have been the impact on innovation or economic well-being?

The International Telecommunications Society is hosting its next one-hour webinar on December 7, starting at 10:00am (Eastern), looking at “Optimizing spectrum auctions”. Frequent readers know that I have been a big fan of the ITS webinars (Like last month’s AI policy webinar)

Geoffrey Myers, a former economist with Ofcom, and now visiting professor in practice at The London School of Economics and Political Science, will discuss his recent book, Spectrum Auctions: Designing markets to benefit the public, industry and the economy.

The webinar will draw on his extensive experience at the UK’s communications regulator, and his study of the theory and practice of spectrum auctions. Professor Myers will explore the optimization of regulatory design in spectrum auctions, providing insights on the entire spectrum auction process. He will address several critical themes that emerge from his work:

• How can we continually improve spectrum auction design by learning from successes and failures worldwide?
• Are there enough analytical tools to consistently guide and support spectrum policy decisions?
• How can expert advice, extending beyond technical and economic knowledge, shape spectrum policy effectively while considering policymakers’ practical concerns?

This webinar is a valuable resource for regulators, economists, and private sector experts involved in spectrum auction design and bidding strategies. It also provides insights for applied economists, teachers, and advanced students interested in market design and public management.

I hope to see you online. Reserve your complimentary spot today.

How should parliamentarians approach the public policy challenges arising from emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

That question appears to be the raison d’être of a multi-partisan working group known as the Parliamentary Caucus on Emerging Technology (PCET). The Caucus is co-chaired by Members of Parliament Michelle Rempel-Garner, Anthony Housefather, and Brian Masse, as well as Senator Colin Deacon. The Caucus was formed recognizing that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are usually deployed “faster than the speed of government.”

PCET recently issued a report as an update on its summer discussions with various parties from Canada and abroad. The report listed key take-aways:

1. Canada needs more forums and opportunities for multi-partisan discussion and education on issues like AI, in the House of Commons and the Senate
2. Canada can benefit from working collaboratively on the international stage on these issues
3. Consider how standards and other tools can help to address the issue of AI in the interim, as we await for legislation to be in force
4. It is worthwhile to look at ways for government to have regulatory agility on AI
5. Canada should consider what other international players are doing, and how their approaches could be implemented in the Canadian context

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece called “Regulatory humility”, suggesting that a little more regulatory humility goes a long way to minimize unintended consequences.

I am encouraged by the initial set of take-aways, especially the section calling for regulatory agility in approaching regulation of emerging technology. “The PCET was founded on the principle that oftentimes, regulators and parliaments are left playing catch-up on new technologies. With AI’s capabilities quickly expanding, and as these technologies are rapidly deployed, other mechanisms must be explored by the government to protect Canadians while also encouraging innovation.”

As I have written in the past, “Politicians looking to score points with intervention in the digital marketplace should carefully reflect on whether new laws are actually needed. What problems are we trying to fix?”

PCET says its approach favouring regulatory agility would “ensure that the digital economy is not left behind in Canada, while also recognizing that having regulatory agility could mean that concerns are mitigated more promptly.”

That is a reasonable philosophy. And the multi-partisan working group is a welcome approach.

While on the topic of AI, on October 23 there will be a webinar from the International Telecommunications Society looking at “Achieving Equitable AI Governance: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility”. The one-hour webinar begins at 10am Eastern and registration is free. Frequent readers know that I have been a big fan of the ITS webinars for staying current on emerging policy issues with top subject matter experts from around the globe.

I hope to see you on-line.