The US has more wireless subscribers per MHz of spectrum allocated to commercial mobile wireless service than the other countries shown in the chart. Likewise, US wireless consumers use more minutes than wireless consumers in other countries. We have resorted to this metric as a short-hand way – or a surrogate – of indicating the relative efficiency of our wireless industry.

We could use the number of minutes per MHz, but that would require us to calculate an estimated traffic volume per country (based on the reported average minutes and the total subscribership per country), and then deriving a minutes per MHz figure based on dividing the total usage by the total MHz. The result would again show that we handle more voice traffic per MHz allocated to commercial wireless use than other countries, even in instances where we have more spectrum allocated than the other countries – because we have more users, and more traffic per user than those other countries. But it is a second order calculation, using additional derived figures, and I prefer to stick to calculations that require the least adjustment.

We have more users, and higher voice traffic volumes per user, than other countries. We’re also a bigger country geographically. That means there are peaks and valleys. Manhattan, Kansas, may not generate as much usage as Manhattan, NY, though we have as much spectrum in the one location as the other. Plus, customers in both cities may choose among five or more providers.

If you could, please provide some discussion on the metric "Efficient Use of Spectrum -- Subscribers Served per MHz of Spectrum Allocated." I see how the numbers are calculated, but I don't see how it is a measure of national spectrum efficiency by which countries can be compared. For example, why, intuitively, is the U.S. four-times more efficient at its use of spectrum than South Korea? (809,755 / 194,444)

Thank you.