A presentation I gave at the Broadband Summit on 25 March 2009 in Johannesburg. In it I make the case for embracing new technologically driven models for spectrum sharing and transparency in spectrum auctions.

1. Opening Spectrum
25.03.09

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

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

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

6. general
In
manage
we
trum like
spec
l estate.
rea

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

8. Or many conference centres...
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

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

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

11. Guard bands...
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

12. ISM Band Spectrum
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

13. Which was fine...

14. ...until the explosive growth of
Internet Mobile

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

16. 1) Independent spectrum audit

17. 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

18. 2) Standards for transparency
in spectrum auctions

19. 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

20. 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

21. 3) Start sharing spectrum

22. 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

23. 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

24. Technology is often a
better regulator than
bureacracy

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

26. What's missing?
You!

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

28. So instead of this...
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

29. Let's have this
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban

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

31. 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

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