Opening Spectrum
25.03.09

What is Spectrum?
The range of radio frequencies used in
wireless broadcast and communication
But. Not all spectrum is created equal

But why regulate spectrum?
Spectrum is regulated to prevent
interference among spectrum users.

t what kind
Bu
...like the sky?
f a thing is
o
spectrum?
hould it be
S
regulated...
...like the ocean?

general
In
manage
we
trum like
spec
l estate.
rea

Imagine a conference centre..
..where each room might correspond to
a spectrum band.

Or many conference centres...
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

Access to any conference
room A anywhere, anytime.
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

Spectrum is allocated like
slices of a pie.
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

Guard bands...
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

ISM Band Spectrum
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

Which was fine...

...until the explosive growth of
Internet Mobile

...until the explosive growth of
So what needs to happen?
Internet Mobile

1) Independent spectrum audit

1) Independent spectrum audit
to the best
nt spectrum g
“Accordin
A rece y
d ata, at an
,
dit of Dublin available
au
nd a n y on e
h o w e d t ha t a
one place
Ireland s is
the U.S. it
only 14% of time in an
hat less th
le spectrum likely t
availab
f available
.
was in usenications 10% o
is in usAm” rica
e.
u m
- Irish t: KmymData Report spectruMeinrath, New e
Co
e
Marke
- Sascata n
h
io
Found

2) Standards for transparency
in spectrum auctions

2) Standards for transparency
in spectrum auctions
um
nt spectr
R ece d
the Unite
n
auction i 70 0Mh z
he
tates of t
S 0
ulted in 2
band res
revenue
D
billion US ent.
r governm
fo

2) Standards for transparency
in spectrum auctions
um
nt spectr ithout good
R ece W
d
the Unite al
ance, natur
n
auction i govern
70 0Mh z s
wealth turn
he
tates of t resource
S 0
ulted in 2 r
be worse fo
band res ou t t o
revenue if
untries than
D
billion US ent. p oo r c o se
dn’t had tho
r governm t he y ha
fo
all.
ources at ottom Billion
res B
r – The
- Paul Collie

3) Start sharing spectrum

3) Start sharing spectrum
–
No v 4 , 2 0 0 8 f
ns e d u s e o
Unlice
ision White
Telev
es spectrum
Sp ac
e
roved in th
a pp
es
United Stat

3) Start sharing spectrum
–
No v 4 , 2 0 0 8 f
ns e d u s e o
Unlice
ision White
Telev
es spectrum
Sp ac
e
roved in th
a pp
–
p t 26, 2 008 es
United Stat
Se e
1y-2008 “lit
802.1
g” standard
licensin e
roved by th
ap p
IEEE

Technology is often a
better regulator than
bureacracy

The Role of Industry
Television White Spaces
Use of television guard bands
Digital dividend spectrum
Serendipitous re-use

What's missing?
You!

Opportunities in South Africa
Digital Television 802.11y
Dividend White “lite
Spectrum Spaces licensing”

So instead of this...
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

Let's have this
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

Summary
1) Independent 2) Transparency in 3) Start sharing
spectrum audit spectrum auctions spectrum

Creative Commons
Hand Holding a Mobile Phone by WhiteAfrican
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/
Sky by Robin Jaffray
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinj/2934399671/
We share this... by Miguel Ramirez
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ibizadj/323305938/
Bureaucracy by BostonBill
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8533266@N04/1296614397/
King Farouk in the inauguration of the international
telecommunications congress 1938 by KodakAgfa
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96884693@N00/1509615338/
Other photos courtesy of http://www.istockphoto.com

Steve Song
email: steve.song@shuttleworthfoundation.org
blog: http://manypossibilities.net
skype: steve_l_song
twitter: stevesong