Agenda

Morning

09:00 – 10:50

Keynote Presentations

09:00 – 09:05

Introduction from moderator

Stefan Zehle, CEO, Coleago Consulting

09:05 – 09:25

Keynote Presentation

Clovis J Baptista Neto, Executive Secretary, Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL)

09:25 – 09:45

Keynote Presentation

Joao Batista de Rezende, President, Anatel, Brazil

09:45 – 10:05

Keynote Presentation

Fernando Borjón, Commissioner, IFT Mexico

10:05 – 10:25

Keynote Presentation

Mindel de la Torre, Chief of the International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

10:50 – 11:15

Morning Coffee

11:15 – 12:45

Session 2: Managing the Analogue Switchoff

The digital switchover in the Latin American region began last year in Mexico, and it is now planned that by 2024 all countries in the region will complete the switchover to digital broadcasting. This session will look at the current situation in different countries across the region, and at the challenges ahead.

- What is the current status with regards to digital switchover across the region?
- What challenges can countries expect to face as they look to replan their broadcast market?
- What legal, technical, financial aspects need to be considered to ensure that the transition to digital is a smooth one for all parties involved?
- What experiences have been seen in countries and regions that have already been through analogue switch off, and what lessons can be learnt?
- Where does the balance lie between aiming for a co-ordinated approach, and also taking into account national differences and factors such as market circumstances, geography, and population distribution?

Moderator: Elena Scaramuzzi, Principal Analyst, Cullen International

Patricia Avila, Secretary of Electronic Communications, Ministry of Communications, Brazil
Luciana Camargos, Senior Policy Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, GSMA
Andre Felipe, Consultant, Regulatory Affairs, ABRATEL
Fernando Borjón, Commissioner, IFT Mexico

Afternoon

12:45 – 13:45

Lunch

13:45 – 15:15

Session 3: Digital Divided

13:45 – 14:15

I. 'State your case' - Can LTE and TV co-exist in the 700 MHz band?

An interactive discussion with 2 speakers offering contrasting perspectives - each speaker will have 5 minutes for opening remarks, which will be followed by a moderated debate.

Moderator: Amit Nagpal, Partner, Aetha Consulting

Geraldo Neto, Manager of Government Affairs, Qualcomm Inc.
Liliana Nakonechnyj, President, Brazilian Society of Television Engineering-SET & Director of Transmission Technology, TV Globo Brazil

14:15 – 15:45

II. Panel Discussion - Harmonizing the Release of Digital Dividend Spectrum to Maximize the Benefits for All

Whilst the majority of APT states and Latin American states have chosen to follow the APT band plan when refarming the 700 MHz band for mobile broadband, implementation of the plans is still, in the main, at the initial stage, with decisions regarding aspects such as timing of release and power levels that transmitters are permitted to operate at still to be finalised. Also, some countries (for example Brazil) are slightly amending the APT plan to account for some specific national requirements. This session will look at some of the key licensing and allocation decisions that are ahead, and at what needs to be done in order to ensure that the economic and social benefits of the digital dividend are realised in both the short and the long term.

- To what extent can decisions on digital dividend be co-ordinated and harmonized with regards to timing, transmitter power restrictions, bandplan and other aspects, and what instruments need to be put into place to facilitate this?
- To what extent is there a need for national differences to be taken into account?
- How can it be ensured that the correct choices on frequency allocation are being made and that both cross‐border radio interference and domestic interference with TV broadcasts are avoided?
- How can it be ensured that sufficient spectrum remains allocated to terrestrial broadcasting?
- What decisions need to be taken now to ensure that the digital dividend is allocated in such a way that it contributes to a fully developed and competitive LTE ecosystem across the region?
- What future challenges and factors of uncertainty are likely to be seen as the region looks to reap the rewards of the digital dividend?
- What are the next steps that now need to be taken to ensure that countries throughout the Latin Americas region are able to reap its benefits as soon as possible?

Moderator: Amit Nagpal, Partner, Aetha Consulting

Maximiliano Salvadori Martinhão, Secretary of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Brazil
Melesia Sutherland-Campbell, Chair, Regulatory & Emerging Technologies Committee, The Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO)
Richard Womersley, Director, Spectrum Consulting, LStelcom
Celedonio von Wuthenau, CALA Public Affairs Director, Alcatel Lucent

15:45 – 16:10

Afternoon Break

16:10 – 17:30

Session 4: What Scope for Increased Co-Ordination of Spectrum Policy Across LAC Countries?

Historically, trends across the LAC region have in the main seen policymakers follow the lead of the US (and the advantages that this provided in terms of economies of scale) when considering key spectrum policy decisions. However given the recent break away from this on the 700Mhz band, this session will look at the future shape of spectrum policy across the region and to what extent there is scope for a greater level of co-ordination.

- Can the co-ordinated approach across the region that is being seen for the 700Mhz band be the catalyst that leads to greater cooperation of spectrum policy in general across Latin American and Caribbean countries?
- To what extent is there truly scope for a deepening co-ordination of policy decisions in this way, and what challenges and obstacles would stand in the way?
- What would be the potential benefits of this, and how can these be maximised?
- What can be done to help to facilitate this?
- Given the increasing emergence of Latin America as a key telecoms market (many describe the region as ‘the world’s most lucrative mobile market’), what impact could a more harmonized approach have on spectrum policies globally?

Moderator: Clovis J Baptista Neto, Executive Secretary, Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL)


Joaquin Restrepo, Head, Outreach and Publication Services Division, ITU
Luis Lucatero, Chief of Regulatory Policy, IFT Mexico
Eduardo Lima, Head of Governmental Relationships Latin America, Nokia
Renell Alamilla, Spectrum Management Officer, Public Utilities Commission – Belize

Morning

09:00 – 10:50

Session 5: Spectrum Issues and Priorities Ahead of WRC 15: Delivering Common Proposals that Meet the Needs of All Spectrum Users Across Latin America

WRC‐15 is considered by many to be the most important for many years, with many crucial spectrum and bandplan issues up for discussion. As the Americas region reaches its final preparations in developing its common proposals and positions, this session will look at some of the key decisions still to be made, and the status of key areas, such as the conflicting solutions proposed for 600Mhz band.

- What are the key milestones and timeframes ahead as we build up to the WRC-15 Preparatory Meeting in March 2015 and then the conference itself?
- Where do we currently stand with regards to the development of the common proposals and positions for the WRC-15?
- In which agenda items is there general consensus on common positions, and in which items is there still disagreement?
- What is the current position relating to the possible refarming of the 470-698 MHz band for IMT?
- When considering common regional positions and policy objectives, how can it be ensured that the long term objectives of all stakeholders are being considered and a balanced and future-proof approach is achieved?

Moderator: Joaquin Restrepo, Head, Outreach and Publication Services Division, ITU

09:00 – 09:20

Keynote Presentation

Héctor Bude, Chairman, CITEL Working Group for the Preparation for WRC-15

09:20 – 10:50

Panel Discussion

Héctor Bude, Chairman, CITEL Working Group for the Preparation for WRC-15
Mindel de la Torre, Chief of the International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Luciana Camargos, Senior Policy Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, GSMA
Francisco Giacomini Soares, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Qualcomm
Jose Edio Gomes, Technical Director, Hispamar
Ana Eliza Faria e Silva, Technology Director, Brazilian Society of Television Engineering - SET

10:50 – 11:15

Morning Coffee

11:15 – 13:00

Session 6: What Options Exist for Finding Additional Spectrum Capacity for the Next Generation of Mobile Broadband?

We have already looked in detail at 700Mhz band and the possible options that this may open up when refarmed for mobile broadband, but this alone is unlikely to be able to provide the capacity to cope long-term with increasing demand plus to deliver significantly faster mobile broadband services for 3G, 4G, and beyond. This session will examine other options to find additional spectrum capacity, both through possibilities of finding additional bandwidth in both higher and lower frequency bands, and also through the optimization of networks via aspects such as innovative technologies and regulatory tools of spectrum and network sharing to increase bandwidth efficiency.

Moderator:
Luis Lucatero, Chief of Regulatory Policy, IFT Mexico

11:15 – 11:30

Additional Bandwidth to Deliver Capacity for 3G, 4G and Beyond - What Frequency Bands Should be Considered?

Alexander Riobo, Latin America Regulatory Director, Telefonica; & Board Member, 4G Americas

11:30 – 11:45

Innovative Approaches and Technologies to Address Capacity Challenges - the EU Perspective

Andreas Geiss, Acting Head of Unit, Radio Spectrum Policy, European Commission

11:45 – 12:00

Mobile broadband and its role for public safety

Luis Lara, Director, Spectrum and Regulatory Affairs , Motorola Solutions Inc.

12:00 – 12:15

Licensed Shared Access - Opportunities to increase spectrum efficiency

Luiz Alencar Reis da Silva Mello, Professor, Telecommunications Studies Centre (CETUC), PUC-Rio

12:15 – 12:30

Spectrum Challenges in the Latin American Broadband Age

Jose Ayala, Head of Industry and Goverment Relations for Latin America , Ericsson

12:30 – 13:00

Discussion and Q&A with the Session's Speakers

Afternoon

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 15:30

Session 7: Bridging the Digital Divide – Using Radio Spectrum to Deliver Universal Broadband Coverage

In the rural and remote areas where no wired infrastructure is present, wireless technologies are often the only viable alternatives to offer broadband services to the population, reducing the digital divide.

- What role can mobile broadband, satellite and other wireless technologies in meeting these targets and delivering broadband to outlying rural communities?
- What policies and technologies are currently being seen, and which are having the most success?
- What additional spectrum is going to be needed, and what options exist for finding it?
- What can be done by regulators to stimulate private investment to build infrastructure and provide the required equipment, and what role can public-private partnerships play?
- Can LTE realistically deliver the performance of fixed broadband?
- To what extent is universal broadband across the entire Latin American and Caribbean region a realistic short term possibility?

Moderator: Charles M. Firestone, Executive Director, Communications and Society Program, Aspen Institute

Graham Johnson, Partner, Aetha Consulting
Nathalia Foditsch, Policy and Regulatory Consultant, Broadband Special Programme, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Eloi Stivaletti, Director, Eutelsat Americas
Matias Cattaneo, Head of Strategic Planning Area, National Communications Commission (CNC) Argentina

15:30 – 15:45

Afternoon Break

15:45 – 17:15

Session 8: Best Practice in Spectrum Awards

The number of countries across the Latin America & Caribbean region countries that have opted to use auctions to award spectrum has increased significantly over the last few years, with more expected to follow suit over the next 12 months. This session will look in more detail at the designs that have been used for some of these, and the results that have emerged, as well as looking more generally at whether auctions are now the new 'norm' when considering spectrum allocations across the region.

Moderator: Stefan Zehle, CEO, Coleago Consulting

15:45 – 16:00

Introduction from moderator - Should Auctions Always be Considered as the Right Approach for Allocation of Spectrum in the Americas?

Stefan Zehle, CEO, Coleago Consulting

16:00 – 16:15

Auctions in Latin America: An industry perspective

Eduardo Lima, Head of Governmental Relationships Latin America, Nokia

16:15 – 16:30

Case Study: Denmark - Successfully Introducing Conditional Licenses and Roll-Out Obligations into Auction Design

Christian Koboldt, Co-Founder, DotEcon

16:30 – 16:45

Case Study: 4G Auctions in Uruguay

Héctor Bude, Head Spectrum Management , URSEC, Uruguay

16:45 – 17:15

Discussion and Q&A with the Session's Speakers