Why New Telecom Provider coming to Jamaica may be using White Space Spectrum

Looks like Digicel and FLOW are finally getting some competition.

This as a Third Telecom Provider is coming to Jamaica as reported in the article “Jamaica is soon to get another Telecom Provider”, published May 3 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner.

 

So says Finance Minister Audley Shaw during a Standing Finance Committee of Parliament on Tuesday May 3^rd 2016. He was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Dr. Andrew Wheatley.

Interestingly according to Minister of Finance Audley Shaw, this Telecom Provider has been in the island with a provisional license for the past two (2) years operating unknown to the Jamaican Public.

This is a follow-on of an announcement made by the previous Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell in January 2016 as it relates to considering an incumbent Telecom Provider for a Cellular license as reported in the article “CabinetConsidering Application for New Cellular Licence”, published January 28, 2016 By Chris Patterson, The Jamaica Information Service.

Finally, we’ll be catching up with Guyana as GTT and Digicel Guyana plan to launch 4G LTE in that country by Thursday May 26^th 2016, Guyana National Independence Day as predicted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Digicel and GTT 80 Mbps 4G LTE in Guyana hints at August 2016 Launch in Jamaica”. 

So who is this mysterious Telecom Provider?

Telecom Provider may be using White Space Spectrum – Conditions right for competition

Not sure who it is, but a clue fell into my lap on Sunday May 1^st 2016 when this ad appeared in the Sunday Gleaner.

 

Telecoms Implementation Services Limited is a contractor that does provisioning on behalf of a Telecom Provider. The fact that they put out this ad and coincidentally two (2) days later Finance

Minister Audley Shaw makes the announcement is no coincidence. Also, I suspect, based on my sources that the Telecom Provider may be using White Space Frequencies, those bands in-between NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) signal to provide their services.

My sources, who drop me information ever so often, pointed out to me that Digicel is using the 700 MHz band and FLOW is using the 1700 MHz and 2100 MHz AWS bands to provide their 4G LTE service respectively as I've pointed out in my blog article entitled “Why FLOW Jamaica's 4G LTE Upgrade to counter Digicel Play needs islandwide LTE, VDSL and DOCSIS 3.1”. 

White Space frequencies area the only spectrum left clear that can potential provide 4G speeds of 80 Mbps and faster that are available. The presence of unlocked smartphones in the form of Huawei, Number portability as noted in my blog article entitled “Huawei and Lasco to sell Unlocked dual-SIM smartphones - Why Number Portability means Open Market for unlocked smartphone” makes Jamaica very attractive to potential investors.

Ditto too the presence of Local IXP (Internet Exchange Point) as explained in my blog article entitled “Jamaica's Local Internet Exchange Point - Why IXP makes browsers load faster and Jamaican Domain Name Registration easier”.

 

So it may come as surprise that Microsoft is testing out our White Space Spectrum.

Microsoft testing White Space Spectrum in Jamaica – Laying a coming Telecom Provider groundwork

This as Microsoft has been in the island testing out Broadband Data Transmission with these White Space Spectrum using Park Hall Primary and Infant School in Trout Hall, Clarendon as their guinea pig as described in my blog article entitled “How White Space Testing by Microsoft at Park Hall Primary and Infant School heralds 80 MBps Competition in Jamaica”.

They may have been doing so for the past two (2) years, as Microsoft has been in Jamaica for quite awhile. They've been in India testing out White Space spectrum for broadband since 2014 as noted in the article “Microsoft to Bring Free Internet to India Using TV 'White Space'”, published November 11, 2014  by Anthony Cuthbertson, International Business Times of India.

Microsoft has since run into regulatory problems with the Indian Government doesn't like the idea of Microsoft potentially becoming a Telecom Provider using free spectrum as noted in the article “Microsoft's plan to connect billions using 'White Space' runs into trouble”, published February 24, 2016, By Rajiv Rao, ZDNet. 

Despite accusations by the Indian Government, Microsoft isn't planning on entering the Telecom Provider business. The same may be true in Jamaica as I suspect they're just testing and mapping the available White Space Spectrum and reporting their findings to the SMA (Spectrum Management Authority). 

So the new Telecom Provider is still unknown but it's a strong possibility they'll be using White Spaces spectrum. It'll be interesting to see who they may be and if White Space spectrum will feature in their Telecoms Service.