ABI: Dynamic Spectrum Access Allows Regulators to Try New Approach to Spectrum Allocation
February 26, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
| |
| Electronics & Telecom Docs |
IHS sells a full selection of standards documents & collections from the industry's top organizations.
To learn more, and for a free quote, please complete the form below. |
|
Dynamic spectrum access (DSA), which lets communications roam between different wireless networks, may offer mobile operators and regulators relief from a looming bandwidth squeeze, according to ABI Research.
Analysts said that the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) standard now includes worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), as well as traditional second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) mobile technologies.
These will be joined by evolved variants of enhanced data rates for global system for mobile communication evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000 and high-speed packet access (HSPA) in the next few years, culminating in the deployment of all-Internet protocol (IP) fourth generation (4G) mobile networks beginning in 2010.
Meanwhile, analysts said the Digital Dividend is set to free up spectrum in the 700 MHz bands for new applications, including homeland security, mobile Internet, mobile TV and terrestrial high definition TV (HDTV).
In competitive auctions, the market will be allowed to decide how to make best use of the spectrum.
"Spectrum, especially in the UHF [ultra-high frequency] band, is attractive to mobile operators for SIP [session initiation protocol] services as they move to all-IP networks,” said ABI Research analyst Ian Cox.
"It is also used by terrestrial TV broadcasters, the military and security services, and they all want a substantial share of it. Regulators can now begin to change their approach, as software radio emerges and spectrum sharing becomes feasible."
The main benefit of DSA will be to improve spectrum utilization, which today is less than 17% in urban areas (at best) and 5% elsewhere. Analysts said from spectrum sharing also flows the additional benefit that spectrum becomes cheaper to use, which will stimulate the development of new services and applications that would otherwise be uneconomical.
Applications include sharing UHF spectrum between terrestrial TV and mobile networks, and allowing UHF spectrum to be used by other technologies including 3G, WiMAX and 4G services and networks. Analysts said all these wireless technologies could eventually come under a management regime that replaces fixed allocation of radio spectrum with real-time traded spectrum.
Software radio, software defined radio and cognitive radio are enablers for DSA. Analysts said alternative approaches using other technologies could also emerge. What is clear is that fundamental changes must be made to how spectrum is allocated and used, if regulators are to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Source: ABI Research.