LokaLTE: 600 MHz Community LTE Networks for Rural Areas in the Philippines

In this paper, we present the case for opening up the 600 MHz spectrum for use by community-based cellular networks (CCN) offering LTE service to unserved and underserved populations in the Philippines. To this end, spectrum measurements were conducted at different locations in the country to establish a measure of utilization or occupancy of the UHF TV spectrum, specifically in the 600 MHz band. Our results show significant white space in the UHF TV band in rural areas, which opens the possibility for the reallocation or re-purposing of this spectrum for mobile networks to provide Internet connectivity in said regions. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), in particular, supports operation of the 4G wireless communications standard, Long Term Evolution or LTE, in the 600 MHz band through Band 71 (617-698 MHz), which is currently not adopted in the Philippines. With policy reform in mind, we have developed an LTE base station prototype, LokaLTE, that supports the case for opening Band 71 specifically for use by CCNs to offer connectivity in rural areas. To our knowledge, LokaLTE is the first LTE base station implementation using OpenCellular and srsLTE operating at Band 71. The low utilization of the 600 MHz band in rural areas and the accessibility of cost-effective infrastructure through LokaLTE are therefore intended to provide the national regulatory and planning agencies in the Philippines with evidence that underpins a policy of regionally selective allocation of Band 71 for use by CCNs to offer LTE service in underserved and unserved regions, thus helping to bridge the long standing digital divide in the country.