Fixed WiMAX Licensing in Eastern Europe

Moderator
	Fredric Morris Editor-in-Chief of Connect-World
Panelists
	Mr. Kemal Huseinovic Director-General, Communications Regulatory Agency (RAK), Bosnia and Herzegovina		Feliksas Dobrovolskis Director of Strategy Department of the Communications Regulatory Authority, Lithuania
	Aleksandrs Cernakovs-Neimarks Deputy Director of Electronic Communications and Post Department, Public Utilities Commission, Latvia		Emil Nikolov President & CEO, Nexcom Telecommunications
	Mihai Comanici Head of Unit - Fixed Service Spectrum Management Division, National Regulatory Authority for Communications and Information Technology (ANRCTI)

Many nations in the region are planning or have allocated national and regional spectrum enabling fixed and nomadic WiMAX in the 3.5 GHz band. Many are still finalizing licensing frameworks for the band. Where are regulators in terms of 2.5 GHz band clearance and mobile WiMAX licensing? How will the EC influence licensing developments in the region? This panel of operators and regulators will examine the current status and plans for new licensing in case study nations.

WiMAX Licensing in Western and Central Europe and Scandinavia

Moderator
	Fredric Morris Editor-in-Chief of Connect-World
Panelists
	Pál Belényesi Member of the President's Cabinet, National Communications Authority, Hungary (NCAH)		John-Eivind Velure Head of Section Spectrum Planning and Strategy in the Frequency Management Department, Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority
	Graham Currier CTO, FREEDOM4; GDC Coordinator-European Operators		Sven-Erik Heun Partner-Telecommunications Department, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Based on national case studies, this panel will examine differences in WiMAX licensing in Scandinavia, Western and Central Europe. Some regulators in countries like Norway are lining up to allocate 2.5 GHz spectrum for mobile WiMAX in 2008 and are embracing flexible allocation policies and service and technology neutrality. Others are reviewing the results of 3.5 GHz licensing before proceeding with additional WiMAX licensing. This panel will compare spectrum channelization plans, the amount of suitable spectrum made available for WiMAX versus 3G technologies, and approaches to interference mitigation and network sharing. What about mobility in the 3.5 GHz band? All will dictate the prospects for mobile WiMAX across the region. .

Licensing Frameworks to Enable WiMAX in Middle East and Africa

Moderator
	Bosco Eduard Fernandes Vice President, Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Co KG
Panelists
	Prof. John S. Nkoma Director General, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)		Prof. Ibrahim A. Kadi Senior Advisor Communications & IT Commission (CITC), Saudi Arabia

What progress has been made in formalizing licensing frameworks for WiMAX across the MEA region? Are proposed bandwidth allocations adequate to support WiMAX business models? Will service neutrality apply? Regulations continue to lag and incumbent protectionism remains an issue. Who’s Leading and Who’s Lagging? Where do regional operators see the major opportunities and what is the focus of their regulatory lobbying? There are signs emerging of more progressive policy approaches as case studies in this panel session will reveal.