Spectrum for mobile services in the Middle East

Plum carried out a study of mobile spectrum harmonisation and availability across the Middle East, considering how the ever-increasing demand for new services and higher quality of service impacts on the types and amount of spectrum required. Our white paper considers how coverage and capacity requirements of end users can be delivered based on best practice around the world and the associated socioeconomic benefits that mobile broadband can deliver. After outlining the role of spectrum in providing mobile services, and discussing how insufficient spectrum allocation may lead to wider economic impacts, we set out a number of recommendations for governments and regulators in the Middle East on how spectrum access should be administered in the future including the importance of harmonised spectrum and cross-border agreements between countries.

As well as this general overview, our paper looks in detail at the current spectrum allocations in seven Middle Eastern countries, focussing on the current spectrum allocation and future roadmaps, leading to specific recommendations.