Our Recent Work

Networks, Economics and Strategy (NE&S) > Our Recent Work

The list below provides our selected recent projects. For more information, please contact us.

Technology Strategy & Networks

  • A Regional Manitoba ISP – NE&S assisted the client in Technical Planning and Business Case Analysis in support of its May 2020 application to the CRTC Broadband Fund. The project team assessed current bandwidth availability, community engagement network routing options, logic network diagram, capital costs of network components, OPEX, revenues and the overall technical and business case feasibility for the extension of broadband access to underserved communities in SW Manitoba – based on a combined FWA and FTTH solution.
  • A Canadian Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) and MNO – NE&S provided assistance in network planning, technology strategy, vendor selection, budget planning, funding applications and regulatory filings.
  • A Large Ontario ISP (providing TPIA and FWA services) –  NE&S pricipals assisted the ISP in the development of its technology strategy and business plans for an underground fiber roll-out Project, the valuation of fiber assets owned by a partner utility company,  updating of the business and technical plans for rollout of a FWA network (including assessment of market potential), inventory of spectrum resources available and associated restrictions, vendor selection process for a FWA initiative, progress reporting to ISED on Connecting Canadians funding and other related activities.
  • A Canadian Small Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (SILEC) – NE&S assisted the SILEC in the preparation of its regulatory submission to CRTC (Canadian commercial regulator) based on our review of MVNO tariff applications submitted by large incumbent MNOs. Key issues examined included conditions for access to incumbent networks, changes to domestic roaming provisions, commercial and business processes, operational considerations, permitted service offerings, network architecture, technical operational considerations including interconnections between carriers, RAN definition, etc.

Spectrum Planning & Auctions

  • A National ISP in Saudi Arabia – NE&S developed a spectrum valuation for the ISP to serve as the basis for negotiations for acquisition of 3500 MHz spectrum from a competitor.
  • Telkom – a fixed and mobile network operator in South Africa – NE&S (in partnership with a consulting firm based in Germany) provided advisory and a simulation software for a multi-band SMRA auction.
  • A US cableco – NE&S (in partnership with a US-based consultancy) provided advisory and software for 4 spectrum auction events:
    • the October 2021 FCC Auction 110: 3.45 GHz Service Auction,
    • the December 2020 FCC Auction 107: 3.7GHz Service C-Band Auction,
    • the October 2020 FCC Auction 904: Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Reverse Auction, and
    • the July 2020 FCC Auction 105: 3.5 GHz Band CBRS Auction.

    The mandates consisted in supporting the client in understanding FCC licensing frameworks and rules and providing software applications for auction simulation and auction tracking.

  • A Regional Canadian multiple system operator (MSO) – NE&S provided auction strategy advisory and simulation software for the 2021 ISED 3500 MHz Spectrum Auction. The mandate included supporting the client with industry insight including competitive & regulatory landscape and rival bidders’ behavior, simulation of various scenarios to establish an auction strategy, tracking tool for the auction event, support in the regulator’s mock auction and in the real auction event.
  • A Canadian ISP – FWA, satellite and MNO – Our team (in partnership with a US based consultancy) provided assistance in understanding ISED Licensing Framework and Auction Rules for the 2021 3.5GHz Auction with auction simulation and auction tracking software applications.
  • A Canadian Satellite Services provider – NE&S provided assistance in understanding ISED Licensing Framework and Auction Rules for the 2021 3.5GHz Auction in combination with NE&S auction simulation and auction tracking applications.
  • Myanmar Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) – for the World Bank, NE&S principals led a spectrum management and implementation support project which included:
    • the development of a 5-year spectrum strategy Roadmap;
    • an update of the National Table of Frequency Allocations;
    • the management of a tendering process for a Monitoring system; and
    • the development of regulatory frameworks for licensing, site approval, unlicensed bands, etc. Read More

Economic Impact Analysis

  • Halton Region (Ontario, Canada) – NE&S in partnership with Nordicity completed a detailed study on Halton Region’s Digital Access Strategy (HDAS). The project scope included:
    • a detailed assessment of the Region’s digital infrastructure readiness,
    • the identification of options for next generation broadband connectivity in the Region (5G and Fibre) and its associated socio-economic benefits, and
    • a recommended digital access implementation action plan.

    Read More

  • Alberta Innovates – a provincial R&D funding agency – NE&S in association with Goss Gilroy Inc., developed an economic impact assessment (EIA) model to study the retrospective and prospective impacts of the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) – a partnership between Alberta Innovates and local entities in Southern Alberta. This economic impact analysis covered RINSA’s services and support programs targeting start-ups and SMEs within the technology and innovation landscape.
  • Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Saudi Arabia – NE&S, in association with its international partner Mobile Systems International (MSI) completed a study on the “Current and Future Status of the Telecom and ICT sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)”. Based on a detailed economic and financial modeling, developed three expert reports:
    • The status of the KSA’s ICT (including Telecom) sector,
    • Benchmarking analysis with 13 countries (UK, USA, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Ireland, Canada, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar),
    • Gap Analysis with the recommendations for narrowing the gap vis-à-vis benchmark countries.

    In addition, NE&S developed the following economic and financial models:

    • a detailed forecast model to assess the economic impact of KSA’s ICT Telecom sector including impact of 5G deployment and regulatory initiatives e.g., structural separation, licensing of MVNOs, and different M&A scenarios.
    • a detailed investment tool to estimate investment required to roll out 5G networks and FTTH network under different scenarios.
  • Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Republic of Suriname – NE&S principals conducted econometric analysis to assess the impact of the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and creative sectors on economic growth in Suriname. Our team examined the quality of economic linkages and public policy framework. We also examined critical issues that are instrumental to the growth of ICT and Creative Sectors in Suriname including:
    • data collection strategies;
    • quantitative and qualitative assessments of contribution to GDP;
    • productivity analysis;
    • optimizing innovation systems for ICT and creative sector; along with
    • feasibility of intervention strategies.

    Our team also conducted a survey of firms in collaboration with a local partner, Equal Chances (ECGD) to collect financial and operating data from firms and institutions having significant activity and employment in the ICT and Creative sectors.

  • Cogeco Communications Inc., Canada – NE&S principals completed an expert report demonstrating favourable economic impacts of which could be attained in the mobile wireless industry under the “Hybrid Mobile Network Operator” or “HMNO” framework proposed by Cogeco in the context of TNC CRTC 2019-57 Review of Mobile Wireless Services policy consultation. Read More
  • Huawei, Canada – NE&S principals completed a detailed study of Canada’s readiness for AI technology development and its standing among the leading AI countries. The project included detailed economic impact forecast assessment (modelling) of potential benefits (GDP, employment, productivity gains) of AI adoption across different sectors of the Canadian economy. The report also developed recommendations for Huawei Canada on how to move forward in AI engagement in Canada.

Broadband Strategic Plan

  • Northumberland County – Economic Development Department – NE&S analyzed the economic feasibility of broadband in the County and based on positive results, developed a customized strategic plan taking into account potential demand, partnerships, etc., leading to the production of a report titled: Feasibility Study and Development of a Broadband Strategic Plan. Read More
  • Quinte West County – Information Technology, GIS Services Corporate & Financial Services – Our NE&S team analyzed the economic feasibility of broadband in the County and based on positive results, developed a customized strategic plan taking into account potential demand, partnerships, etc.
  • Township of Leeds & Thousand Islands (TLTI) – Department of Planning & Development – Our NE&S team analyzed the economic feasibility of broadband in the Township and based on positive results, developed a customized strategic plan taking into account potential demand, partnerships, etc., leading to the production of a report titled: Broadband Network Business Plan, March 2021. Read More
  • A Large Ontario ISP – TPIA and FWA – NE&S analyzed the economic feasibility of the roll out of FTTH in the target market area taking into account market demand, competitive service providers, capital and operating costs and provided a confidential report: FTTH (Fibre to the home) Business Case Study.

Investment Analysis & Business Valuation

  • Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade (DFATD) Investor Services – NE&S principals assessed the state of 5G in Canada relative to other leading jurisdictions and developed an investment case to support the department’s mission. Our team provided the Ministry with the following report: Telecommunications/5G/Wireless Investment Case. Read More
  • A Canadian Regional Cableco – NE&S principals developed a customized technical/financial business model to facilitate strategy analysis of FWA deployments vis-à-vis FWA/FTTH hybrid solutions and correspondingly, enable the cableco to expand its LTE-A FWA and FTTH footprint in target rural market areas.
  • Invest Ottawa – NE&S principals conducted a supply chain analysis of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in selected relevant European and Canadian markets.

Regulatory Support

  • An association of Small Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (SILEC) – The NE&S team assisted the client in the development of Comments and Reply Comments submissions to two ISED (Canadian spectrum regulator) consultations:
    • Amending Cellular and PCS Licence Conditions – including deployment Conditions at renewal; and
    • New Access Licencing Framework, Changes to Subordinate Licencing and White Space to Support Rural and Remote Deployment.

    NE&S developed a technology strategy, conducted regulatory analysis and prepared the draft submissions.Read More

  • An Association of Small Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (SILEC) – The NE&S team assisted the association in the preparation of an unsolicited submission to ISED (Canadian spectrum regulator) requesting an administrative declaration aimed at closing a policy gap between ISED and the CRTC (Canadian telecoms commercial regulator). The policy gap resulted from the use by the CRTC of spectrum ownership as an eligibility criterion for its new tariffed MVNO policy without consideration for a legacy type of service areas still used by ISED. The risk for the association was to lose access to the MVNO regime. Our mandate included survey of stakeholders, compilation and analysis of survey results and drafting of the submission for the association.
  • A National ISP in Saudi Arabia – NE&S assisted the ISP in development of its response to CITC’s – the Saudi spectrum regulator – Public Consultation on an Information Memorandum for the Spectrum auction of 2100 MHz Radio Licenses for Non-Terrestrial Networks. The mandate consisted in providing regulatory, technical and market analysis relevant to the consultation and drafting the client’s submission.
  • A Canadian Small Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (SILEC) – NE&S assisted the SILEC in the preparation of its regulatory submission to CRTC (Canadian commercial regulator) based on our review of MVNO tariff applications submitted by large incumbent MNOs. Key issues examined included conditions for access to incumbent networks, changes to domestic roaming provisions, commercial and business processes, operational considerations, permitted service offerings, network architecture, technical operational considerations including interconnections between carriers, RAN definition, etc.
  • A Large Canadian Independent ISP and Network Operator – NE&S provided regulatory analysis to assist the ISP in the preparation of its submission to ISED’s ‘Consultation on a Streamlined Framework for Auctioning Residual Spectrum Licenses’.
  • An association of Canadian ISPs – NE&S principals provided technological assessment and regulatory analysis to assist in the preparation of the association’s comments to ISED’s (Canadian spectrum regulator) Consultation on ‘Revisions to the 3500 MHz Band to Accommodate Flexible Use and Preliminary Consultation on Changes to the 3800 MHz Band‘. Key issues included access to secure and affordable spectrum for smaller facility-based service providers, conditions of access to incumbent networks, migration of services from 3G and 4G to 5G technology and services platforms.
  • Canadian Association of Wireless ISPs (CanWISP) – NE&S principals assisted CanWISP in their submission to ISED’s consultation on the ‘Spectrum Outlook 2018-2022‘ and developed a ‘whitepaper’ (expert report) that examined the technology evolution, spectrum needs and utilization of service providers and benchmarked regulatory frameworks on key issues such as the availability of secure, affordable spectrum. The finding of the whitepaper was incorporated into CanWISP’s submission.

Funding Applications

  • Northumberland County – The NE&S team assisted the County in the preparation of financial and technical models and submission of documents to the ISED Universal Broadband Fund. Read more
  • Quinte West County – Our team assisted the County in the preparation of financial and technical models and submission of documents to the ISED Universal Broadband Fund.
  • A Manitoba regional ISP – NE&S supported the ISP in the development of the firm’s funding application to the CRTC Broadband Fund and in responding to clarification questions from the Commission.
  • 5 Ontario & Quebec ISPs – NE&S principals assisted 5 Ontario and Quebec ISPs (St Clair, Six Nations of Grand River Development Corporation / SILO Wireless, Navigue, TekSavvy & Distributel) in the preparation of their technical and financial plans as the basis for individual applications to the ISED ‘Connect to Innovate‘ broadband funding program. The projects scope included the following elements:
    • an assessment of current bandwidth availability;
    • a survey to establish the level of community engagement;
    • mapping of fibre routes/microwave links;
    • development of coverage maps, network routing options and logical network diagrams;
    • estimation of capital costs of network components, OPEX, revenues; and,
    • development of a business case feasibility for the extension of backbone fiber, FWA and/or FTTH broadband access to underserved communities.
  • 5 ISPs in Ontario, Quebec & Alberta – NE&S principals provided assistance to 5 ISPs in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta (Access Communications, Fiberwave, Netago, Northwind Wireless, Teksavvy) in the preparation of their technical and financial plans as the basis for individual applications to the ISED ‘Connecting Canadians‘ broadband funding program. Our team assessed or developed: current bandwidth availability, community engagement, mapped fibre routes/microwave links, coverage maps, network routing options, logical network diagrams, capital costs of network components, OPEX, revenues and the overall technical and business case feasibility for the extension of FWA and/or FTTH broadband access to underserved communities.
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