by Roberto Young – GM, Engineering & Planning Spectrum Harmonization of the 700 Mhz band for LTE

Belize Telemedia Limited.Roadmap to LTE.LTE 700 Mhz Options.Regulatory Collaboration.Way Forward

BTL Background In the 1980s there existed two companies in the Telecommunications Industry - Cable and Wireless PLC - Belize Telecommunications Authority (BTA) BTA was incorporated in April 1987 as the Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL) - Assets and Liabilities of BTA were vested into BTL.

BTL Background cont’d Cable and Wireless PLC license to provide the International Services was not renewed. The Belize Telecommunications Act of 1987 was established BTL was granted a 15 years exclusive License to provide the National and International Telecommunication Services - Modernization of National Network - Modernization of the International Network

BTL Background cont’d The Belize Telecommunications Act, Advent of Competition - BTL obtains a 15 year license to continue to provide the National and International Telecommunication Services - BTL was not alone The Belize Telecommunications Vesting Act, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL)

Roadmap to LTE BTL was providing our Digicel Mobile Service using AMPS and GSM Edge technology. There was a need to expand the capacity of our existing network There was a need to expand the network to other unserved areas Our Customers were asking for an enhances experience on their mobile network BTL is the leader in this industry

Roadmap to LTE cont’d BTL and Ericsson entered into a contractual agreement for Ericsson to design, engineer and supply a Single Carrier, 850 Mhz WCDMA, HSPA+ 21 Mbps per Sector mobile network so that BTL can provide its enhanced Digicel Services. This meant that BTL required more 850 Mhz bandwidth as the WCDMA required a 5Mhz bandwidth carrier. A Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application was made for BTL providing a roadmap to LTE Mhz bandwidth in the 850 Mhz Band - 18 Mhz bandwidth in the 700 Mhz Band

Roadmap to LTE cont’d BTL was operating an AMPS technology (obsolete)and a GSM technology in the 850 Mhz band With the HSPA+ requiring a 5 Mhz carrier in the 850 Mhz band a rollout plan was put in place. This then established our Roadmap to LTE in three Phases -Phase 1: GSM and AMPS co-existing in the 850 Mhz band -Phase 2: GSM and HSPA+ co-existing in the 850 Mhz band -Phase 3: GSM and HSPA+ co-existing in the 850 Mhz band with LTE existing in the 700 Mhz band

Roadmap to LTE cont’d Phase 1 Source: BTL Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application, June 2011

Roadmap to LTE cont’d Phase 2 Source: BTL Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application, June 2011

Roadmap to LTE cont’d Phase 3 Source: BTL Frequency Spectrum Authorization Application, June 2011

Roadmap to LTE cont’d 700 Mhz Source: awt-global.com

Roadmap to LTE cont’d 700 Mhz Source: awt-global.com

Roadmap to LTE cont’d 700 Mhz Source:

LTE Options US 700 Mhz Band Plan - As identified in earlier slide 12 APT (Aisa Pacific Telecommunity) 700 Mhz Band Plan Source: Wikipedia

LTE Options cont’d Is there an ITU version that we should also be looking for that will be truly Global? How is the Caribbean Frequency Harmonization for the 700 Mhz proceeding?

LTE Options cont’d LTE - An enhanced experience using the HSPA+ has caused customers to demand higher data download speeds for improved experience with various Apps. - Data use has increased ten fold since the soft launch in December 2012 and we expect that it will continue to increase exponentially - US TV channels portray the US Service Providers Networks allowing Mobile TV and Video Conferencing - Belizeans in the US facilitating latest “Smartphone” devices

LTE Options cont’d Migration to LTE is inevitable The Market plays a key role in this direction but we will be able to take advantage that it comes with: - Spectral efficiency - Major improvements in download speeds - Reduced latency Which Band Plan will BTL deploy?

Regulatory Collaboration Belize is on the Central American mainland and is surrounded - by Mexico to the north - by Guatemala to the west and south - by the Caribbean Sea to the East Honduras is not far away to our South East Jamaica is directly to the East of us

Regulatory Collaboration cont’d Belize Source:

Regulatory Collaboration cont’ BTL has chosen to deploy LTE in the 700 Mhz band - building penetration ability - 10 Mhz bandwidth allocations are supported Being surrounded by Mexico and Central American countries we must be aware of what they are using the 700 Mhz band due to our close proximity Jamaica on the other hand will not affect us due to the distance away

Regulatory Collaboration cont’d In general it was earlier understood that the Central and South American countries were leaning towards adopting the APT 700 Mhz Band Plan The 4G Americas white paper “The Benefits of Digital Dividend” – September 2012 indicates that -the Mexican Regulator adopted the APT 700 Mhz Band Plan in Guatemala is still using the band for TV - Honduras is still using the band for TV - Belize has no listing (but we know it is allocated for TV presently)

Regulatory Collaboration cont’d Belize Source: ambergriscaye.com

Regulatory Collaboration cont’d The PUC is encouraged to allocate the use of the 700 Mhz band of interest for Mobile Broadband Services - technology neutrality The PUC is further encouraged to not declare which 700 Mhz Band Plan will be adopted by Belize - Further engagement is necessary between the regional regulators - Further engagement is necessary between the mobile service providers

Regulatory Collaboration cont’d - Further engagement is necessary between the regional regulators and the respective providers

Way forward As BTL progresses with its plan to deploy LTE in Belize there must be a coordinated effort between BTL and the PUC There will need to be a Cross Border Coordination between - Belize and Mexico - Belize and Guatemala There will also need to be a Coordination between Belize and Honduras across the sea

THANK YOU!