Around the world, every telecom industry has consequently adopted the concept of new infrastructure sharing. The idea behind this is to reduce the capital requirement for investments in infrastructure. This will benefit from the economies of scale. However, there are differences in the definitions of active and passive infrastructure provider licensees worldwide. These differences are elaborated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Let us look at them one by one.
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Passive Infrastructure Provider Sharing
This kind of sharing allows telecom operators to share telecommunication networks’ non-electrical and civil engineering elements. It includes the following elements:
- Rights of Way
- Easements
- Ducts
- Pylons
- Masts
- Trenches
- Towers
- Poles
- Equipment Rooms
- Related power supplies
- Air Conditioning
- Security Systems
Active Infrastructure Provider Sharing
For instance, this type of sharing involves the active electronic network elements and the intelligence in the network. They are embodied in base stations and other equipment for mobile networks. The active infrastructure uses access node switches and management systems for fibre networks. But Sharing operational infrastructure is a more contested issue. Such sharing goes to the heart of the value-producing elements of the business.
GSMA 2, in its composition on Mobile Infrastructure Sharing, broadly categorizes Mobile Infrastructure Sharing into the following sub-types:
- Infrastructure Site Sharing
- Mast Sharing, Antenna Tower
- RAN Sharing
- Inter-connection Roaming
- Core-Network Sharing
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Current Trends in the Telecommunication Reform
As published by International Telecommunication Union, the GSMA represents the interests of telecom operators around the world. It has united more than 750 operators with over 350 companies in the mobile ecosystem. This ecosystem includes the following:
- Handset
- Device Makers
- Software Companies
- Equipment Providers
- Internet Companies
- Adjacent Organizations in Telecom Industry
What is Passive Sharing in Telecom?
Passive sharing is the sharing of space or physical supporting infrastructure. Such sharing does not require active operational coordination between different network operators. For instance, site and mast sharing are different forms of passive sharing.
The remaining categories are forms of active sharing because they require operators to share active network layer elements such as radio access nodes and transmission systems. During the RAN sharing, MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) continue to keep separate logical networks. Also, the degree of operational coordination is fewer than in other types of active sharing.
BEREC Common Position on Mobile Infrastructure Sharing
The BEREC (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) provides common definitions of infrastructure sharing types as it lays out the common definitions of passive as well as active sharing in the following points:
- Passive sharing is the use by two or more telecom operators of passive elements of their respective internet networks.
- Passive elements are equipment which cannot process telecommunication signals in any way. They cannot be integrated parts of the system dedicated specifically to signal conveyance.
- Passive elements can be referred to as unpowered components. These elements do not require a power supply. However, it is not always the same case with a power supply.
- You can consider air conditioning for cooling equipment as a passive element. However, they also require an external power supply.
- Passive sharing encompasses sharing of passive backhaul elements.
- In contrast, Active sharing is the use by two or more telecom operators of active elements of their respective networks.
- Active elements can generate, process, amplify and control signals.
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There are various examples of active elements. It includes many types of electronic equipment, both hardware and software. Each of these elements is capable of various functions, such as the following:
- Transmitters
- Receivers
- Amplifiers
- Decoders
Moreover, to know more about the Infrastructure Provider license and its related sharing mechanism, connect with the Registrationwala.
