A group of CDMA vendors plans to deliver a document to Anatel next week requesting permission for Brasil Telecom (BrT) to use the 1900 MHz frequency band on a primary basis to operate its PCS licenses. Under Resolution 314, this band is for primary use by LECs or CLECs for fixed wireless service using WLL technology. Mobile wireless use will be allowed only on a secondary basis. In BrT?s case the segment is reserved for wireline access in Region 2 of the General Licensing Plan (Portuguese-language acronym PGO). The LEC has purchased PCS licenses for the same region. The licenses are supposed to be operated at 1800 MHz. BrT recently issued a request for proposals from GSM and CDMA vendors. If it doesn?t use the 1900 MHz for WLL, another telco can apply to use it for any service. Only by using the band on a primary basis can BrT feasibly opt for CDMA, which is best at 1900 MHz. In their application to Anatel the CDMA vendors plan to argue that if Telemar can use 1800 MHz for WLL, there?s a legal precedent for BrT conversely to use 1900 MHz for PCS. Additionally, they say, this solution would enable BrT to offer consumers a full and more sophisticated line of services rather than operating merely as a partner of the major GSM players. Lastly, the CDMA vendors claim that the 1800 MHz segments allocated to the licenses granted should be considered assets with which the owner can do what it likes. Thus there should be no obligation to use them for PCS.
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