UK Spectrum Policy Forum Cluster 2 Meeting – 24 July 2014 Janette Stewart, Principal, Analysys Mason Methods of spectrum access and the increasing role of spectrum sharing More information at: http://www.techuk.org/about/uk-spectrum-policy-forum All rights reserved

1. Methods of spectrum access and the
increasing role of spectrum sharing
Presentation to the Spectrum Policy Forum
24 July 2014 • Janette Stewart

2. Contents
2
Policy drivers and context
Current and future approaches to spectrum access
Key questions for industry focus

3. 3
Policy drivers and context
Current and future approaches to spectrum access
Key questions for industry focus

4. Better use of spectrum through sharing is a key
element of government policy
▪The ‘Connectivity, Contents and Consumers’ paper suggests a
number of key targets and actions:
–Ten-year plan to deliver greater public value from use of spectrum
–Variations to Ofcom’s market powers, e.g. use of incentive
auctions
–Increasing the amount of spectrum available on a shared access
basis
–On-going work to release spectrum from the public sector
(prioritising 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands)
▪ although this work is focussed on releasing spectrum for use on
a dedicated basis, a recent Ofcom consultation also identifies the
opportunity for sharing at 2.3GHz
4Policy drivers and context

5. Ofcom also issued a document on spectrum
sharing recently setting out priorities
▪Ofcom’s document identifies three areas where actions may be
required to encourage more shared spectrum access:
–Ensuring sufficient spectrum so that high-speed wireless
connectivity can continue to be provided by Wi-Fi
–Providing access to spectrum to accommodate growing demand
for (outdoor) mobile broadband small cells
–Providing spectrum for device-to-device connection (M2M and IOT)
5Policy drivers and context

6. The three basic tools for managing spectrum
access are well known
6
Spectrum authorisation methods
Policy drivers and context
Dedicated, licensed
spectrum
Licence-exempt, shared
spectrum
Licensed sharing
▪ Often competitively
assigned
▪ Key instrument for major
wireless services where
investment certainty is
required – e.g. mobile
networks, fixed wireless
access, some fixed
links, broadcasting*
* although PMSE has historically been a secondary user of UHF spectrum, and new
licensed sharing is now emerging in UHF white spaces
Includes some spectrum
that has been competitively
assigned for shared use
(e.g. DECT guard band),
and some spectrum where
Ofcom manages the
sharing (e.g. fixed links,
PBR)
Used by wireless
systems that have been
exempted from requiring
individual licences, based
on certain specified
technical conditions
being met (e.g. low
transmission power,
interference avoidance)
Area of increasing
focus

7. Policy drivers and context
Current and future approaches to spectrum access
Key questions for industry focus
7

8. Many radio services today use spectrum in their
own dedicated, licensed bands
8Current and future approaches to spectrum access
Mobile networks (e.g. 800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz)
Fixed wireless access (e.g. 3.4GHz)
Digital broadcasting (e.g. 174–227MHz and
470–790MHz)
Some fixed links (e.g. 4GHz, 10GHz, 28GHz, 40GHz)
Emergency Services (380–400MHz and part of
410–430MHz)
Examples of spectrum users within their own dedicated bands
Aeronautical radar (e.g. 2.7–3.1GHz)
Some transport (e.g. GSM-R)

9. Use of dedicated spectrum enables a stable
investment environment for operators
9
Rationale for dedicated spectrum
Current and future approaches to spectrum access
* e.g. dedicated spectrum makes it easier to operate at
higher power levels
Benefits
of
dedicated
spectrum
Enables
wide area
coverage*
Service
obligations can
be met
Usage rights
are clearly
defined
Predictable
service quality
and control of
interference
Spectrum
value can be
quantified

10. Wi-Fi is the biggest category of licence-exempt
use, but others are growing rapidly
10Current and future approaches to spectrum access
Licence exempt spectrum – examples of usage
DECT
RFID
Personal
/social
alarms
Blue-
tooth
Zigbee
IEEE802.11b/g
and n
PMSE
IEEE802.11a/
ac
Telemetry
Auto-
motive

11. Licensed sharing is where the widest range of
current and new approaches exists
11Current and future approaches to spectrum access
Licensed sharing
Secondary licensed use
(e.g. PMSE)
Shared orbital
resources (satellite)
Lightly licensed (e.g.
5.8GHz, 65-80GHz)
Ofcom-coordinated
(e.g. business radio,
fixed links)
Geo-location/sharing
policy databases
Licensed/authorised
shared access (e.g. for
public sector spectrum)
Existing methods
New tools and approaches
Multiple concurrent
rights (e.g. DECT guard
band)
Dynamic spectrum
access

12. Policy drivers and context
Current and future approaches to spectrum access
Key questions for industry focus
12

13. There are some broad questions about the
balance between different methods
▪Will the capacity of licence-exempt spectrum be exceeded in
some bands (leading to spectrum congestion)?
▪What new dedicated bands might be required (beyond those
already being planned, e.g. 700MHz, parts of 2.3GHz and
3.4GHz)
▪What new approaches (if any) will be needed to accommodate
emerging and future applications such as IOT and 5G?
13Key questions for industry focus

14. A number of questions also arise from new
approaches to licensed sharing in particular
14Key questions for industry focus
▪ Ensuring the correct instruments are in
place for spectrum release – is RSA
suitable and appropriate?
▪ How to progress sharing opportunities in
non-released spectrum at 2.3GHz
 Extension of geo-location approaches to
spectrum other than TV white space
 What other near-mid term technological
advances will facilitate dynamic spectrum
access?
▪ What spectrum access policies are
required to implement the vision for 5G?
▪ How might current spectrum be more
flexibly used in future (e.g. ‘spectrum
breathing’)?
Future
sharing –
key issues
Public sector
spectrum
Dynamic spectrum
access
Spectrum access for
new services

15. Contact details
15
Janette Stewart
Principal
janette.stewart@analysysmason.com