Key Success Factors in Refarming of 3500 MHz Band: Lesson Learned from Brazil

Abstract

More than 600 MHz of frequency bands were allocated for International Mobile Telecommunications: IMT services, however, they were insufficient for 5G technology.
The 3500 MHz frequency band was therefore allocated for the 5G technology. Currently,
the 3500 MHz frequency band is provided for both satellite television and fixed-satellite services in Thailand, and thus it needs to be refarmed. In the Federative Republic of Brazil, over 30 percent of households depended on the 3500 MHz frequency band for satellite television services. The country had successfully refarmed the frequency so that it could be used for both satellite television and fixed-satellite services. This paper aims to study the key success factors of the spectrum refarming of 3500 MHz frequency band in Brazil as well as to propose the refarming guidelines for Thailand through interviews with people involved in Brazil’s refarming process. The results revealed that the key success factors were the clear objectives and practical technical and economic options. Moreover, the frequency interference problem solving using scientific principles and the participating of stakeholders were also key success factors for spectrum refarming.