1. Towards an EU
policy for Cognitive
Radio?
Peter Anker

2. What is the RSPG and what is it doing on CR?
Radio Spectrum Policy Group
Advisory body to the European Commission on Radio Spectrum Policy
Issues
Representatives of the Member States and of the Commission
Workprogramme 2009
7 - Cognitive Technologies
Expected result: Introduction of the issue to the European agenda
2 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

3. Objective of the work
Strategic RSPG report
Is there a need for regulatory action to enable spectrum access for
cognitive radio?
What is Cognitive radio;
Overview of various components of cognitive technologies (sensing the
environment, information gathering, databases, cognitive pilot channel,
learning capabilities etc.);
A brief overview of the experiences and lessons in Europe and elsewhere
with (pre) cognitive technologies;
how cognitive technologies could operate in the various models for
spectrum management;
brief summary of the US framework for ‘whitespaces’ and the differences in
the US and EU, including possible actions to ensure timely regulatory
responses in EU;
identifies the challenging issues which require further attention.
3 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

4. Spectrum management: What is the problem?
Unused “white” spots
Deliberately left unused for
Radio Astronomy
4 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

5. Three inefficiencies
1. Not all frequencies are used
2. New applications have to go to higher frequencies
“old” applications have a large part of the most attractive
pieces of spectrum
3. Slow response to changes in market and technology
Build-in resistance to change
Need for more dynamic access to spectrum
5 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

6. How to use these white spots?

7. Problems with Dynamic Spectrum Access
• Sensing the opportunity:
• How to detect when channels are free?
• Quality of Service for opportunistic user:
• How long channels are going to be free?
• Interference to incumbent user:
• How to avoid potential interference?
• Medium Access Control:
• How to coordinate multi-channel communication?
• Policies in channel access:
• How to regulate spectrum access?
7 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

8. Mastering the hidden node problem
Need for cooperation
Sharing of spectrum sensing information among CRs
+ Improves probability of detection
Channel needed to exchange sensing information
Overhead to exchange sensing information
Use of beacon transmitters
Need for a Cognitive supporting Pilot Channel
· Dedicated (worldwide harmonized) channel?
· Existing access technology
Database with local spectrum usage
Need for access to a database
Awareness of location
8 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

9. Regulatory framework
License exempt white spot access
Smart radios are used with a build in techniques and rules (etiquettes)
to reduce interference
Everybody can use the spectrum as long as the etiquettes are followed.
Market based access
Well defined exclusive rights
Maximum right of flexibility as to the type of services that can be
provided
A market type mechanism such as an auction for an initial allocation of
spectrum rights
Secondary market in which these rights can be sold or leased
9 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

10. Access models
License exempt white spot access Market based access
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10 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

11. What are the spectrum policy implications?

12. What regulatory problems are DSA systems facing?
Exclusive rights in most bands
Rights restricted to a single service or technology
New technologies have to adapt to the history but do not fit in the
current regime
However …
There is no regulation that prevents the introduction of DSA systems
12 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

13. What needs to be done?
More flexibility in the use of frequencies
More flexibility in the assignment of frequencies and trading thereof
Conditions for opportunistic spectrum access
Spectrum sensing limit
Transmitter parameters
Additional means for information gathering on spectrum usage
Pilot channel
Database
13 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

14. International regulations - Agenda WRC 2011
1.19 to consider regulatory measures and their relevance, in order to
enable the introduction of software-defined radio and cognitive radio
systems, based on the results of ITU-R studies, in accordance with
Resolution 956 (WRC-07);
1.2 taking into account the ITU-R studies carried out in accordance
with Resolution 951 (Rev.WRC-07), to take appropriate action with a
view to enhancing the international regulatory framework;
14 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

15. Regulatory activities on European level

16. European activities
More flexibility in the use of spectrum
RSPG Opinion on WAPECS RSPG05-102
Increasing use of market mechanism
RSPG Opinion on Secondary Trading RSPG04-54
Preliminary CEPT Study on the Use of Cognitive Radio in the TV bands
Based on spectrum sensing (OSA)
Amount of white space is limited
Tight broadcast planning
TV band also used for Program Making and special Event Services
Harmonised subband for fixed/mobile use
16 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

17. Opportunistic access
Strict rules needed to keep the interference to the primary users at an
acceptable level
Such rules should promote fair sharing of spectrum resources
among OSA devices
Possibly a database with information on primary use
No guarantee to spectrum access
Likelihood of interference
Limited
Cooperation needed between regulators and standardization bodies to
keep the rules up to date
Need for a harmonized band to start the ball roling
17 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

18. Market based access
Active coordination between users
Possibility to earn money with unused spectrum
Possibility for a spot market and long term contracts
Possibility for distribution of access based on actual use
Can even be used to ease cross border coordination
Sharing based on acceptable interference
QoS part of the negotiations
Well defined exclusive licenses granted to primary users or brokers
As few usage restrictions as possible
No barriers to instant trading
Electronic information about ownership
and actual usage should be available
18 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009

19. Concluding remarks
Today's radios are still based on the principles out of the time of the
crystal radio
Huge potentials for an increased efficiency
Fair distribution of access based on actual usage
More flexibility needed in both technology and regulations
Do not focus only on uncoordinated Opportunistic Spectrum Access
Need for cooperation
19 Joint Workshop on Cognitive Radio Brussels, 11 May 2009