The Future of Spectrum Policy: dynamic spectrum access & unlicensed spectrum sharing (incl. Wi‐Fi)

DSA Global Summit, Bogota DSA Summit – 27th April 2016Prof. H Sama Nwana,– Executive Director

1.Who is the DSA? 2.Why Colombia for first DSA Global Summit in the Americas?3.Why Spectrum Policy matters & The Challenges of Future

Spectrum Policy4.Dynamic Spectrum Access & examples5.Why unlicensed sharing is key, Wi-Fi, LTE-U/LAA and Risks6.Summary of The Future of Spectrum Policy7.Q/A

Outline

Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

A global, cross‐industry alliance focused on increasing dynamic access to unused radio frequencies

Goals:Closing the Digital Divide

Enabling the Internet of ThingsAlleviating the “Spectrum Crunch”

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• The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance is a global organization advocating for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization including spectrum sharing. 

• The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance members are working to create innovative solutions that will increase the amount of available spectrum to the benefit of consumers and businesses alike.

• The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance has developed model rules that can be used by regulators in adopting license‐exempt rules for TV white space access. Available at: www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org/submissions.html. 

About the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

1.Who is the DSA? 2.Why Colombia for first DSA Global Summit in the Americas?3.Why Spectrum Policy matters & The Challenges of Future

Spectrum Policy4.Dynamic Spectrum Access & examples5.Why unlicensed sharing is key, Wi-Fi, LTE-U/LAA and Risks6.Summary of The Future of Spectrum Policy7.Q/A

Outline

Why Bogota, Colombia?Source: A4A1

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Why Bogota, Colombia?Source: A4A1

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Why have some countries succeeded inmaking Internet access more affordable,accessible and universal, and what canothers do to catch up quickly?

Managing spectrum properly really matters

12© 2016 Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

Key Challenge: Most spectrum is unused in most places most of the time – must change

Spectrum is currently underutilizedSpectrum utilization ~6.5%Spectrum allocation ~100%

TV Whitespaces (TVWS) is the first step due to digital TV migration

Unused spectrum exists from …time to time, & location to location

Spectrum is currently underutilized (Singapore)

14Copyright 2015 Carlson Wireless Technologies Inc. 

Connecting the Next Billion

Challenge: 4 Billion Have no Internet AccessThis is a key requirement for future spectrum policy

Why?  Solutions for remote areas aren't economically feasible.

The Reality of the Affordability & Reach Challenge 

(Source: Richard Thanki, University of Southampton, from UN & ITU Data)

Billions of People on Earth Average Annual Income (pa) Affordable monthly communications spend

1st Billion $29,206 $205

2nd Billion $12,722 $53

3rd Billion $5,540 $23

4th Billion $2,987 $12

5th Billion $1,771 $7

6th Billion $1,065 $4.4

7th Billion $540 $2.25

1.Who is the DSA? 2.Why Colombia for first DSA Global Summit in the Americas?3.The Challenges of Future Spectrum Policy4.Dynamic Spectrum Access & Examples5.Why unlicensed sharing is key, Wi-Fi, LTE-U/LAA and Risks6.Summary of The Future of Spectrum Policy7.Q/A

Outline

Typical definition: a spectrum sharing approach that allowssecondary users to access the abundant spectrum holes orwhite spaces in licensed spectrum bands – but 2 primaryusers can use dynamic spectrum access approaches toshare

DSA technology enables radios to safely share multiplefrequency bands without interfering with legacy and otherprotected wireless systems

• White Space = part of the spectrum, available for a radiocommunication application (service, system) at a given time in a given geographical area on a non-interfering/non-protected basis with regard to primary and other services (CEPT Report 24, 2008)

What is Dynamic Spectrum Access?

White spaces (unused radio waves in TV spectrum)

• Definition in layman’s terms: “White spaces” refer to geographical areaswhere the radio spectrum is not used by the licensee.

• White space spectrum canbe potentially accessed by usersother than the licensee, resulting in

– increased overall spectrum efficiency.– innovative new services, e.g. Broadband.

• Protection of the incumbentlicensee(s) is paramount.

• TV white spaces are already used UNCONTROVERSIALLYby two licensed services: PMSE and local TV.

Example: High power TV broadcasts using the same frequency need to leave spaces between

their coverage areas to avoid interference.

These frequencies can be used in the “white spaces” in between by lower-power

devices.

TV Whitespaces‐based Rural Broadband is Vital for South Americas and next unconnected

20Copyright 2015 Carlson Wireless Technologies Inc. 

Connecting the Next Billion

It has 3 to 5 fewer access points =  greatly reduced cost Broader coverage and range of microwave TVWS opens up a vast clean spectrum at no cost

In Hilly or Forested Areas, $ reduced 3x

Spectrum Sharing Update (2015):Unlicensed in the TV Bands

22© 2014 Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

“The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference of 2012 concluded thatthe current international regulatory framework can accommodate softwaredefined radio and cognitive radio systems, hence dynamic spectrumaccess, without being changed. The development of systems implementingthis concept, such as TV white spaces, is therefore essentially in the handsof national regulators in each country.

….For this, regulators will depend on state of the art best practices whichare currently developed by ITU-R Study Groups 1, 5 and 6.”

François Rancy, Director, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau ITURadiocommunication Seminar for Arab Countries, RRS13-Arab Tunis,Tunisia on December 13, 2013

TV Whitespaces & the ITU

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 5,000.0

 10,000.0

 15,000.0

 20,000.0

 25,000.0

 30,000.0

 35,000.0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Installed Base

Cumulative Shipments

Source:  ABI Research:  Cumulative Wi‐Fi‐enabled Product Shipments and Installed Base of Wi‐Fi‐enabled Products World Market, Forecast: 2000 to 2020.

Approaching 15 billion cumulative shipments and 7.5 billion Wi‐Fi install base

WI‐FI DEMAND HUGE & EVER‐INCREASING 

WI‐FI IS THE PREDOMINATE & PREFERRED WAY PEOPLE ACCESS INTERNET

• Over 80% of mobile data traffic goes over Wi‐Fi

– Wi‐Fi traffic grew at over 2X the rate of cellular traffic from 2H13 to 1H15, accounting for ~83% of wireless traffic [3]

– 81% of smart phone traffic is carried over Wi‐Fi [4]

– “Wi‐Fi dominating monthly data usage” [5] 

• iOS users consume 82% of wireless data over Wi‐Fi

• Android users consume 78% of wireless data over Wi‐Fi

– “Almost all wireless data usage (80‐90%) is “Quasi‐static/In Wi Fi coverage,” due to device capabilities, relative pricing, and quality‐of‐experience versus cellular”

[3] Strategy Analytics’ Telemetry Intelligence Platform: http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2015/08/study‐cellular‐wi‐fi‐data‐usage‐among‐smartphone‐users‐tripled‐under‐two‐years[4] Analysis Mason: Research Report: Consumer smartphone usage 2014: mobile data usage April 2015[5] Mobidia: http://www.mobidia.com/insights/topic/whitepapers[6] Bernstein Research, Paul de Sa: https://owncloud.cablelabs.com/public.php?service=files&t=0384b653d14da1120ad740136de327a9

Wi‐Fi ‐Maslow Hierarchy: But 5G is NOT the emerging “human need”  ‐Wi‐Fi is…

• Increasingly consumers also come to expect3 layers of connectivity: fixed, mobile, Wi‐Fi.

• Why WiFi/Unlicensed Access (need for more unlicensed spectrum)?– WiFi already plays a crucial role in meeting demand from mobile devices, where 

most of that demand is generated while users are actually stationary.– Technology upgrades will enable switching from mobile to WiFi to be far more 

transparent for consumers than it is at the moment.– The introduction of Wi‐Fi calling effectively extends mobile networks’ coverage.– Virtually all tablets are WiFi‐only.

Where? Some Spectrum “Crunch” Areas DSA has commented on in the past

• Unlicensed sharing using TVWS BOTH VHF and UHF (most well known – but just a start)

• Standards: ETSI PAWS, 802.11af, 802.22, 802.ah, etc.• DSA/Sharing in 3.5GHz band• GSM Whitespaces• LSA/SAS in 2.3Ghz, 3.5GHz• Unlicensed @ 5GHz• IoT/M2M• Geolocation Sharing in 17‐19.7GHz (FS & FSS sharing)• 5G & DSA• LTE‐U & LAA• Using Wi‐Fi in other bands (TV Bands, V‐Band, Mmwave bands, etc.)

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Why DSA Exists: to advocate for the Future of much more efficient Spectrum Policy (source: IDA, Singapore)

Dynamic Spectrum AccessOptimise and enable access to under‐utilised spectrum

UtilisationExclusive

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Shared (temporal & spatial)

RegulationLicensed

↓Unlicensed (e.g. Wi‐Fi)

AllocationStatic ↓

Dynamic

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• Communications industry (globally) is increasingly shaped or slowed down by policy/regulation – e.g. Wi‐Fi’s history => get competitive advantage with the faster regulatory alliances/markets

• Help us influence regulations/policy for you in your own market!• Dynamic access/sharing of spectrum is truly the future!• We are helping “make” markets: IoT, low‐cost broadband, smart 

infrastructure, smart sensors, smart agriculture, Wi‐Fi in TV bands…• We help promote standards and ecosystems• We help provide “intelligence” and a “watching brief” to our members on 

trends, regulatory directions, diverse views, etc.• Also join for us to learn from you: consumer electronics, smart sensors, car 

industry… and you learn too from us hopefully

Why you may want to join the DSA?