2 EDITORIAL

We should perhaps be grateful that science fiction remains firmly within the confines of a good novel .

For , if machines were to gain a sinister live and attempt to overthrow the human race , we would probably be overrun . By itself , there are already more mobile devices than there are people in the world — and that is a fact .

And these devices are serving myriad functions , including the consumption of video content gaining ever higher resolutions , that is , HD to 4K / Ultra HD . How , then , do you connect billions of people in the Internet of Things ? 5G networks , for many , is the answer . Less certain at the moment is , which spectrum band 5G networks will be run on .

Earlier this year , satellite service providers Intel sat and SES submitted a controversial proposal to the FCC , which essentially pushes for spectrum within C-band to be allocated for terrestrial mobile services , including 5G . Both companies , however , have been at pains to explain that the proposal is not appropriate outside of the US — and they are right .

In a region as diverse as Asia-Pacific , C-band satellite services remain vital in reaching out to populations in countries where ubiquitous 4G networks have not even begun to replace lumbering 3G networks .

Of course , as more governments in the region invest in national broadband infrastructures , this situation is likely to improve . Asia-Pacific will also continue to be one of the fastest-growing regions in the world when it comes to mobile device takeup , as well as the consumption of video content on these devices .

However , when this reaches a critical mass , is there sufficient bandwidth to support the sheer amount of Internet traffic ? Speaking with APB ,

the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council ( APSCC ) referred to a study in Singapore that estimated the mobile spectrum requirements for 5G to be closer to 3GHz , rather than the 20GHz projected by some models .

And what about the spectrum that has already been allocated for mobile services over the years ? Has this been adequately utilised , before the IMT industry lobbies for even more spectrum ?

A pragmatic approach blending moderation and rationalisation is perhaps what is required . As digital communities and economies continue to grow , next-generation mobile networks , 5G in particular , can serve as the connectivity matrix linking the world together .

It will also potentially address the connectivity and latency issues surrounding the mobile viewing experience , as over-the-top ( OTT ) services — from both traditional and new entrants — continue to draw viewers beyond the TV set .

As to which spectrum band 5G eventually operates in , more suitability studies need to be carried out to access exact requirements .

The final decision , however , should not have an adverse impact on the ability to deliver key broadcast and communication services to large populations who may otherwise be under-reached — regardless if this is via C-band spectrum or those used for terrestrial TV broadcast .

SHAWN LIEW MANAGING EDITOR

Aptil 2018 ( volume 35 issue 3 )

EDITORIAL managing editor Shawn Liew , shawn @ editecintl . com contributing editor ( technology ) Karl K Rossiter , karl @ editecintl . com news editor Josephine Tan , josephine @ editecintl . com

CORRESPONDENTS n India Shirish Nadkarni , shinads @ yahoo . co . uk

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CIRCULATION & PROMOTIONS Lynn Chee , lynn @ editecintl . com circulation intern Samuel Thaddeus Phillips

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