brief overview of the CITC spectrum consultation to make available more spectrum for mobile and commercial services.

1. CITC’s new consultation on spectrum for commercial and innovative use (closing date 28 February)
https://www.citc.gov.sa/en/new/publicConsultation/Pages/144201.aspx
The new consultation seeks views on the Kingdom’s spectrum strategy from 2021-2023, which
follows on from a consultation in June 2020, as well as a workshop co-organized with the ITU in
December.
The overall aim is to unlock the potential of radio to maximize economic and social welfare for
citizens, by promoting innovation, and moving towards more market based-mechanisms to manage
spectrum - for a smarter and safer future.
Of course, it is pretty much always the aim of a spectrum regulator to use spectrum more efficiently,
and CITC’s goal of encouraging spectrum’s contribution to GDP from 2.4% to match the top 20
countries at around 3.4% is a big ask. To make that uplift would require (one would expect) some
major changes to how spectrum use is organized, but CITC has moved fast in the past with several
mobile auctions since 2017.
To meet this big ask there are some big policy suggestions about commercial spectrum, including
spectrum for mobile/IMT:
• 116 MHz of spectrum below 1 GHz;
• 350 MHz from 1 – 6 GHz (including 3.8-4 GHz);
• 24.25 – 27.5 GHz;
• Plus 5925 – 7125 MHz and 66-71 GHz for License-Exempt (Wi-Fi6E type services).
There is also a major move towards more lightly-licensed spectrum for innovative services:
• 4 – 4.2 GHz and 28 GHz (27.5-29.5) for mobile - protecting satellite services.

2. For me there are a couple of highlights that I think can really move the dial on the headline GDP
number.
First, the decision to follow other admins in opening up the whole of 5925 to 7125 MHz for Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi does not get the attention of IMT but is a crucial complementary technology for broadband
delivery and hence the digital economy. Without Wi-Fi to distribute it, fiber to the home loses a lot
of attraction for consumers and businesses. Many (such as CEPT) have decided to only license up to
6425 MHz, because of competing claims by the IMT industry.
The other one obviously is spectrum for 5G/IMT (especially C band), but the push for more spectrum
below 1 GHz can really help rural coverage be more cost effective. This is particularly important in
countries with a large landmass. The standout band here is 600 MHz (Band 71) with 2 x 35 MHz, and
a large US ecosystem.
To make that decision CITC has concluded that after a repack of terrestrial TV channels they might
only use 1 or 2 DTT multiplexes, and that broadcasters in KSA have said they are willing to do this.
That could have a major impact on the use of digital TV bands in the region if other admins follow
this course. CITC also referenced a consultant’s report by Plum, I commissioned when I was at the
GSMA - in the run up to WRC-15 for this assessment.