Competition, mergers and site costs: lessons learned from the iterated cost model

Recently we’ve been working on expanding the capability of one of our mobile network models – the iterated cost (or bootstrap) model. In a nutshell, this model treats buyers and sellers of mobile data as rational economic agents, similar to those operating within digital markets like a casino utan svensk licens, where regulatory differences can[…]

All change: how 5G will shake up spectrum management

Although the technology underpinning 5G is still in development, it is likely to offer additional capacity and efficiency in the radio access network much as preceding generations have. However, with ever-growing traffic demand, challenging competition, and the rise of OTT services, operators are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain healthy business margins. There is uncertainty[…]

Valuation of mobile broadband spectrum in Taiwan

Plum was part of the study team which advised the National Communications Commission on the auction of the 2.6 GHz band in Taiwan. Plum’s consultants led the valuation work, which employed a combination of techniques including international benchmarking, econometrics, avoided cost modelling and enterprise valuation. The work also included an assessment of the potential impact[…]

Reserve prices in spectrum auctions – why size matters

Auctions have proved to be a popular tool among governments and regulators for the assignment ofscarce spectrum resources for mobile use. While the economic rationale for auctions is sound, the actualimplementation has at times been flawed and the implications costly. This Insight looks at spectrumauction trends over the last decade, focusing on reserve prices in[…]

Vorsprung durch Econometrics – what drives spectrum value?

Radiospectrum is a vital input in the provision of mobile services. Additional spectrum enhances the coverage and capacity of mobile networks, enabling them to meet the ever-growing demand for mobile data. Yet attaching an appropriate value to spectrum is a perennial problem for regulators and operators – regulators must decide how to allocate spectrum and[…]

PPDR transformation centre

Plum was part of a consortium examining all aspects of Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) systems under European research programme FP7. Plum was involved in the development of the reference usage scenarios with the aim of identifying the typical current and anticipated future operational scenarios faced by PPDR operatives and the related communications needs,[…]