Recap of the Middle East Spectrum Conference

by Sarah Miller
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In the last week of March, our Computech Auction Platform,CAP, headed for Dubai, the site of PolicyTracker’s Middle EastSpectrum Conference 2011. Kris Shields, our Auctions Practice Lead, and I lead a 2-day “hands-on guide toauctioning spectrum” training course preceding the conference. Regulators from Oman, UAE, Mozambique, Australia, and Sudan eagerly joined us to learn all about auctions, and in particular how to use CAP to auction spectrum.

Training – Martin Sims, Managing Director of PolicyTracker, kicked o the course with a presentation examining the popularity of auctions as an assignment method for spectrum. He compared auctions to other methods, such as beauty contests, and explained that auctions beat alternatives because they:

• allow for price discovery (determining market value of spectrum)
• improve efficiency of assignment process for both regulators and operators
• provide a mechanism for re-allocating spectrum that result from liberalization efforts

Next, the Computech team dove into a dialogue of how a properly structured auction design and format encourages participation, truthful bidding, and new market entry. We then transitioned right into the first Mock Auction – Kris and I as the auctioneer, and the attendees as the bidders. Over the next two days, we ran two full mock auctions, using an 800 MHz license profile for the first mock, and Spain’s upcoming “big” auction, which combines multiple bands into one auction for the second mock (see results from Germany’s “big” auction in 2010). After each mock, we provided comprehensive results analysis comparing bidders’ valuations, efficient allocation, and the actual outcome.

Dr. Chris Doyle, a specialist in regulation and competition issues affecting the electronic communications sector (Apex Economics & Dept. of Economics, Warwick University), closed out our 2-day course with a session emphasizing the importance of good auction design, and the proper treatment of eligibility criteria and payment schemes to result in a successful spectrum auction.

Conference – Dr. Hamadoun Touré, ITU Secretary General, gave an inspiring opening address. He remarked on the “positive developments in spectrum management, with spectrum re-farming and trading now becoming a reality… [and] the opportunities coming from white spaces and the digital dividend.” He expressed the need to assess the efficiency of international regulatory framework in light of the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2012.

Following Dr. Touré, leading experts in law, economic, and regulation presented on such pertinent matters as:

• Competition issues and spectrum re-farming
• Spectrum allocation for 4G networks
• Analogue TV switchover
• Challenges in Spectrum Enforcement
• Innovative new technologies

Computech’s own Kris Shields presented on best practices in spectrum auctions during a session focused on Greater Flexibility in Spectrum Management, with a perfect introduction by Jonas Wessel, Head of Spectrum Markets Department at PTS, who compared running an auction to a rocket ship: “ready, set, go – it has to work”. Kris stressed that there is no single answer in spectrum auctions; rather the best practice is to ensure that a particular regulator’s policy objectives, market conditions, competition outlook, and the spectrum at hand shape the path to auction format, design, and rule decisions.

In addition to flexibility in management and design approaches, additional key themes discussed at the conference included the significance of technology neutrality, global roaming capabilities, and the need to coordinate at borders. While countries have differing levels of experience in terms of allocating spectrum, developing processes, and deploying technology, we united on the fact that every nation faces the same critical issue – how to most efficiently manage such a scarce resource that is at the crux of our daily business and personal lives.


Posted on Friday, April 29th, 2011 at 12:16 pm and is filed under Online Auctions.

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By: admin

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The Up and Coming

up-and-coming
adj
“promising continued or future success; enterprising”

It’s not always easy to keep track of the many different practice areas around Computech. With our broad expertise, it can be somewhat of a challenge to stay abreast of everything we’re accomplishing. So we’re here to keep you up to speed with what’s going on with Computech at this very moment and in the near future.

Right now our Auctions team is providing hands-on training at the Middle East Spectrum Conference in Dubai. At the conference on Tuesday, March 30, is the “Greater Flexibility in Spectrum Management” program, at which Computech’s auction expert Kris Shields will speak on the “Best Practice in Spectrum Auctions.” Fresh off the successful 800 MHz Swedish Spectrum auction and the aforementioned Middle East Spectrum Conference, the Auction team will then begin preparing for the 6th Annual European Spectrum Management Conference in June, for which Computech is a gold sponsor.

In non-auctions related news, Computech’s Chris Merkel will be speaking at the sold-out Midwest UX Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The conference, which takes place on April 9 and 10, finds Chris speaking on Practical Accessibility, which will include a workshop that seeks to expand participants’ knowledge outside of the “industry standard” checklists, and will provide in-person and hands-on demonstrations of a screen reader and a brailler printer, details of current and upcoming federal and legal regulations, and overviews of recent legal battles in courts.

In other news, last week Computech found out that we have won the Recompete contract at the FCC. As part of the new contract, Computech will be expanding our support of mission-critical systems by managing the Tracking and Administrative towers of FCC’s portfolio in addition to the Licensing tower we manage today. As a company, we are extremely proud that the FCC placed its trust in us once again.

Finally, as a quick reminder, Computech is currently seeking to fill positions including Project Assistant, Project Coordinator, Technical Writer, and Java Developer. Any inquiries or referrals can be directed towards Carrie Gaut.


Posted on Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 at 10:24 am and is filed under FCC, Jobs, Online Auctions.

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By: Darren Vandergriff

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CAP in Action: Computech’s Auction Platform Raises 323m in Sweden Auction

The 800MHz Auction, hosted by the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) was successfully completed on Friday. The auction, which began last Monday, assigned licenses in the 800 MHz band and was concluded after almost five days of bidding and 31 bidding rounds.

The 800 MHz band is attractive for many different kinds of services, such as wireless broadband or mobile telephony. Computech, which created and maintains PTS’ auction processes, was at the event which showcased a customized version of Computech’s Auction Platform (CAP) and auctioned off the Swedish government’s broadband spectrum.

Last November, PTS awarded Computech the contract for auction consulting services and software in support of their 800 MHz band auction. Friday, after 5 days, PTS raised $323.7 million through the auction.


Posted on Monday, March 7th, 2011 at 12:31 pm and is filed under Online Auctions.

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By: Darren Vandergriff

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Middle Eastern Spectrum Conference Registration Open

On March 29 and 30, the Second Middle East Spectrum Conference will take place at the Palace Hotel, Old Town, Dubai. The conference itself will cover the key emerging issues in Spectrum Management, while highlighting its role in the Middle East.
Some of the specific topics discussed at the conference:

• Finding the spectrum for 4G networks
• Tackling the mobile data crunch
• The challenge of GSM reframing
• Reaping the digital dividend
• New approaches to spectrum enforcement
• Public sector spectrum in the 21st Century
• Cognitive radio: how close is the future?

In the coming weeks we’ll provide more information regarding the event and Kris Shields’ role in the conference – which includes a hands-on guide to auctioning spectrum, two days before the conference begins; in the meantime, you can learn more the training courses here and Computech’s role here.

Make sure that you register for the conference right here.


Posted on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 at 2:03 pm and is filed under Online Auctions, spectrum management.

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By: Darren Vandergriff

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Computech Delivers Auction Solution to Mexico’s Telecommunications Regulator

COFETEL Leverages Automated Licensing Technologies to Successfully Allocate Spectrum Licenses, Raise Revenue & Increase Competition

BETHESDA, MD–(Marketwire – September 10, 2010) – Mexico’s telecommunication regulator, Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones (COFETEL), and information technology consulting firm, Computech, announced the results of this summer’s 1.7 and 1.9 GHz spectrum auctions, which raised a combined $640 million. By comparing and contrasting US/Mexico spectrum policies, Computech adapted its auction platform (CAP) to all of COFETEL’s requirements, enabling the Mexican government to automate the auction process, which allowed for greater efficiency, optimal pricing and increased bidder participation.

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To read the full release “Computech Delivers Auction Solution to Mexico’s Telecommunications Regulator” please see: http://bit.ly/9c9dfF.  We will be posting have included the Spanish + Portuguese versions of this release on our site.


Posted on Friday, September 10th, 2010 at 9:21 am and is filed under News, Online Auctions.

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By: Computech

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