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The purpose of this paper is to analyse some of the spectrum management policy implications of an evolving set of wireless technologies. Specially, deployment of heterogeneous networks (HetNets) as part of the rollout of long-term evolution networks and their expected use as the heart of next-generation services raises the question as to whether such networks should lead to any spectrum management policy changes.

The paper describes the use and variety of HetNets when using licensed and unlicensed or commons spectrum.

The paper demonstrates that there is little need to change current spectrum licensing regimes to deal with these networks in a licensed spectrum. However, it also shows that the deployment of HetNets other than WiFi in an unlicensed spectrum creates an information asymmetry, which means that spectrum regulators will find assessment of spectrum demand more difficult. The paper also highlights the problem facing spectrum regulators when there is a potential for interference to unlicensed services which are widely deployed but have no right to protection from interference.

Spectrum regulators will need to understand the extent to which an unlicensed spectrum is being used by mobile network operators to deliver wireless broadband services. This understanding is needed to be able to address potential interference with other services using an unlicensed spectrum and to be able to forecast spectrum demand.

The development of technologies that are designed to be used by existing mobile network operators for the delivery of wireless broadband services using an unlicensed spectrum creates novel regulatory challenges. This paper reviews some of these.

The purpose of this paper is to examine in a fully up-to-date manner the position in respect of the licensing and launch of long-term evolution (LTE) (4G) in a region that attracts relatively little attention in academic work and the media. The purpose is also to examine the role of incumbency and to assess to what extent the licensing of LTE can make a difference to the structure of mobile markets in the region.

The first step has been to compile extensive databases with respect to the licensing and launch of high-speed networks in the region, arranged so as to emphasize the position of the dominant incumbents. A distinction is drawn between the larger, mainly Latin American, countries and the smaller, mainly Caribbean, islands. There is a discussion of new entry and its potential to disrupt incumbents.

The position of dominance held by two operators – América Móvil and Telefonica in the larger countries and by Digicel and Cable & Wireless Communications (Liberty Global) in the islands – is brought to the fore, and the analysis demonstrates that this is unlikely to be more than marginally affected by regulatory attempts to restructure markets by, for example, fostering new entry.

This is necessarily an overview paper as more than 50 countries/islands are covered, so detailed individual country studies are precluded.

The way forward, such as it is, can only be illuminated by first clarifying the current state of play.

The databases that underpin the analysis are author-compiled and entirely original.