This document discusses dynamic spectrum access and its potential contributions. It covers the scope of the sector including wireless communications applications and using TV white spaces. Dynamic spectrum access could enable ubiquitous cloud connectivity, fill coverage gaps, and extend internet access. It is currently focused on TV white spaces. Technology-based coordination may eventually replace static licensing and allow more flexible spectrum sharing. In the long term, dynamic sharing could become the norm with complex hybrid distribution networks and spectrum as just another resource.

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Dynamic Spectrum
Access
Input for the UK Spectrum Forum
26th March 2014

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Agenda
• Scope of the sector
• Contributions to social and economic value Current and recent past
status
• Sector trends
• Usage of technologies and spectrum
• Expected changes to tech and spectrum
• Longer-term (10-20 years) tech and spectrum needs and options

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Scope of the sector
• Wireless communications – across applications of many types.
These include ICT, energy, medical, automotive, emergency
response and financial
• White spaces – are an unused resource, which could be made
available for sharing and opportunistic access, without the need
for a licence
• TV white spaces are the first step on the road to broader
application of Dynamic Spectrum Access, across a growing
portfolio of shareable bands
• What people, services and devices are concerned?
• Consumers, professionals
• Services
• Broadband – fixed, mobile, public, private, home, office, campuses, venues ….
• Machine to Machine – including environment monitoring, CCTV, smart energy
and remote displays
• What devices
• embedded, wearable, smartphones, tablets, TVs, table-tops ……
Enabling ubiquitous connection to
the cloud

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Contributions to social and economic value
• Innovations arising from dynamic spectrum access could make
life more convenient and safer – as well as creating jobs in
technology development
• Filling gaps in coverage, so consumers can enjoy more
seamless and reliable connections
• Extending internet access to more people
• Enabling more sustainable and convenient urban living, with
more cost-effective services
• Supporting critical, safety of life services, through enabling
bandwidth on demand and rapid deployment of ad-hoc
networks

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Development status
• TVWS opened in US in 2010, using a geo-location
database to enable licence exemption
• UK TVWS trials in 2011-2012 established feasibility and
strength of industry interest
• ETSI BRAN 301 598 standard and CEPT Report 159
provide a solid basis for a harmonised European market
• Interest is now growing rapidly, around the world, with
trials in Africa, Singapore, Korea, Japan …
• Many of these are looking to Ofcom and the success of
its UK Pilot
• Industry has formed the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance to
help the development of policy and associated
ecosystem, globally

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Usage of technologies and spectrum
• Current focus is on the TV white spaces spectrum,
because of favourable propagation
• Licence exempt access, through DSA, will enable
some exciting innovation
• LE will allow grass roots infrastructure investment
to help fill connectivity gaps

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Expected changes to technology and spectrum
• Geolocation database technology has scope for further
development and provides room for innovation in business
models too
• Sensing technology is likely to develop alongside to assist
coexistence between DSA networks
• Intelligence may be distributed across the infrastructure –
between cloud and end-device to enable an adaptive
connectivity
• Technology-based coordination is the big prize allowing the
full benefits of new wireless technology to be enjoyed
much sooner than with traditional human/paper-based
systems

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In the longer-term – dynamic sharing becomes the norm
• Technology-based dynamic
coordination can replace licence-based
static coordination
• Distribution networks become
increasingly complex hybrids, with
cloud-based management
• Spectrum is just another piece of the
puzzle

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Thank you
Andrew Stirling
Larkhill Consultancy Limited
andrew@larkhillconsult.co.uk
www.larkhillconsult.co.uk

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Further reading
• Microsoft dynamic spectrum research
• Economic benefits from licence-exempt use of spectrum
• Dynamic Spectrum Alliance
• Centre for White Space Communications (University of Strathclyde)
• PCAST report

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Appendix - Overview of required input

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Wi-Fi’s growing impact
2002
alliance
founded
2012
439M
homes using a
Wi-Fi router
2016
800M
homes
projected to
deploy Wi-Fi
generates $46 to $87 billion of consumer surplus each year.
maintains 49 to 101 million fixed broadband subscriptions globally.
Currently 25% of all households worldwide use Wi-Fi
85% penetration in homes with fixed broadband
By making fixed broadband more valuable, Wi-Fi:
Source: Microsoft