TV White Space and Applications

Jeff Schmidt j.schmidt@spectrumbridge.comOctober 16, 2012 Oakland, California

CENIC Workshop Organized by the New America Foundation

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Spectrum Bridge is a Spectrum Management company that develops technologies for enabling access to spectrum.

SpecEx – The secondary market place for spectrum, UDIA - A spectrum sharing solution for 5GHz , The world’s first certified TVWS solution

Actively involved in TVWS efforts around the world.

Overview

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Projected Spectrum Deficit in the US

1 President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, May 2012

Enhanced Mobile Devices are Leading to a US Spectrum Deficit1

• Data more than doubled 4 years in a row• Smart phones generate 24X data of basic-feature cell phones• Tablets create 5X more traffic than smart phones

Huge WW Mobile Device Growth Opportunity (2020) 1

• $4.5T Global Value • M2M Wave next• 50B devices• Zetta-bytes of Data… 1021

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Unlicensed Spectrum is the fuel for innovation

Ref: Report of the Unlicensed Devices and Experimental Licenses Working Group, Federal Communications Commission

Spectrum Policy Task Force November 15, 2002

But its been a while…

Band Year Authorized

Frequencies (MHz)

Total Allocation (MHz)

ISM/Spread Spectrum 1985 902-928 26

ISM/Spread Spectrum 1985 2400-2483.5 83.5

ISM/Spread Spectrum 1985 5725-5825 100

Unlicensed PCS 1993 1910-1930,2390-2400

10 remain

U-NII 1998 5150-5350,5725-5825

200100

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Why TVWS?

Real NLOS performance Significantly increased range, 3x-5x Better coverage– 10x reduction in Wi-Fi APs Manage co-existence via database More spectrum! 2.4 GHz coverage

600 MHz coverage

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Evolution

2004 20122008 201120102009

First online TV white space database

First experimental white space networks

First TVWS solution subject to FCC trial

First FCC certified database

FCC grants rights to database providers

FCC issues Second Memorandum to Final TVWS rules (10-174)

FCC publishes initial Notice on TV White Space (04-

186)

FCC issues Second Report & Order for TVWS bands (08-

260)

FCC issues Third Memorandum to Final TVWS rules (12-36)

First FCC certified TVBD

Second , Third… FCC certified TVBD

Do not expect a sensing only radio to be certified

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TVWS: How it Works

•Relies on Geo-location database and spectrum allocation policies,•With established policies and a feedback mechanisms, spectrum allocation can be tightly controlled,•This concept is flexible and extensible to virtually any spectrum band - rules and policies can be modified and implemented in real-time.

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Notable Trials and Deployments to Date

Location Application Environment PartnerClaudville, VA First WS Network!

Rural BroadbandHills/Foliage

Plumas, CA Smart Grid Mountains/Desert

Logan, OH Telemedicine Suburban Medical Indoor & Outdoor

Wilmington, NC Smart City Urban Coastal City

Helsinki, FI Investigation: Interference to Broadcasting

Large City

Cambridge, UK Coexistence &Location Services

Various

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Unlicensed White Space Supports a Wide Range of ApplicationsTo Date:

Ö M2M – telemedicine, sensors, controlsÖ Smart Grid / Telemetry - smart meters and power grid monitoringÖ Video Surveillance – public safety and traffic monitoringÖ Broadband - last mile internet access in rural areasÖ Enhanced Location Services - value added services and advertising at venues

Planned: Femtocell - backhaul and offload for small cell deployments Content distribution - multicast video and data in big box stores and

convention centers

Avoided: High QoS (unlicensed/shared) TDMA (need clean channel) Narrowband (due to PSD limits) Mobility (requires higher TX power limits for personal portable devices)

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White Space

Data Base

OTA Content Delivery

RegistrationAnd

ChannelAssignment

Content

Other Innovative Applications

• Already seeing innovation beyond the original concepts.

• Example: a low power DTV content distribution solution using COTS TV sets for localized content delivery.

• Think convention centers, sporting events, shopping malls

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White Space or Gray Space ?

• A product of mixing MegaWatt and milliWatt transmitters in the same ecosystem.• Need for co-existence is exacerbated by the nature of excellent VHF and UHF

propagation.• A data base provides the opportunity to mitigate the interference effects of TV

services and other TVBDs.

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How Gray?

Caution ! Diminishing returns with higher antenna sites

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A Spectrum Bridge Solution

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Non-Exclusive Use

•Current TVWS rules define unlicensed = non-exclusive, i.e. shared use,•WiFi in the ISM band is a working model, except in cases overcome by the “Tragedy of the Commons,”•As a result, there is no guarantee of performance,•A concern for Service Providers and business critical applications.•However, the existence of a database enables the opportunity to manage co-existence.

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Facilitating Co-Existence and Sharing

• Geo-location Database Serves as “Air Traffic Controllers”• Network Operators are not picky about how this is accomplished• Automatic notifications when:

• Potential interference or channel conflict occurs or might occur• Future use of spectrum is at risk

• Feedback of channel selection and sensing data facilitates best results• Results in active and passive resolution of interference “Stand-offs”• Active view of existing usage

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How Much is Available?

Fixed Device (4W) Channel Availability

California Channel Availability = 13.2 MHz

Low Power Device Channel Availability

California Channel Availability = 30.5 MHz

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TV Band Incentive Auctions

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 provides for TV incentive auction…

“Television white spaces will continue to be available for unlicensed use in the repacked television band.”, (Ref: FCC NPRM In the Matter of Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions)

Incentive auctions would share auction proceeds with the current occupant to motivate voluntary relocation of incumbents.

Broadcaster participation in incentive auction is voluntary.

In exchange for a share of auction proceeds a broadcaster could: Contribute one or more 6 MHz channels Choose to move from UHF to VHF Share spectrum with another broadcaster….multiplex Or choose not to participate!

As a consequence, more TVWS spectrum could become available in urban areas

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Companies (publicly) Active in White Space

Certified Database Providers

Database Candidates

Certified TVWS Radios

Radios in Certification

Radio Companies Announced

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Thank You

www.spectrumbridge.com

Conclusion