Reader Forum: Spectrum crisis vs. bandwidth crisis

Wireless spectrum is a very valuable and limited natural resource. This fact, and the surge in data traffic on wireless networks, is driving the misconception that there is a wireless spectrum scarcity issue in the U.S. The truth is, there is approximately 90-95% of spectrum allocated for commercial and business use that goes unused at any given time and place. A 2005 National Science Foundation study validates these numbers, finding that approximately 5.2% of spectrum between 30 megahertz and 3000 Megahertz is occupied at any given time.
The issue is not spectrum scarcity, but rather the inefficient way spectrum is currently allocated and used. To start with, all commercial spectrum is owned by the federal government and allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which, over multiple years and multiple spectrum auctions, has licensed or leased spectrum to various commercial entities to use for wireless communications. In order to maintain an “active” status, license holders must demonstrate their ability to build out their network utilizing this spectrum. However, this is not always the case – as the commission stated in the National Broadband Plan, “…The FCC has expressed concern that existing licensees may not fully utilize or plan to utilize the entire spectrum assigned to them; as a result, a substantial amount of spectrum may be underused.” The inefficient utilization – both within a spectrum holder’s network as well as between network operators, has lead to a so-called “spectrum crisis” in the wireless industry.
However, the “spectrum crisis” is only part of the equation wireless providers and network operators face. Another challenge is the “bandwidth crisis,” the increased demands on bandwidth as a result of the growing number of mobile users, wireless access technologies and carriers leveraging Wi-Fi hotspots. Wireless next-generation device usage continues to increase as a result of simple-to-use devices, higher quality browsing experience, high-definition video, improved email / text functions, and increased mobile applications available.
A study released by Rysavy Research in February 2010 found that given the exponential growth of wireless device usage, the current rate of bandwidth demand will likely far exceed spectrum capacity, resulting in network operators and service providers being unable to meet the demands of their users. Networks were not originally designed to support the application-driven technologies that today’s wireless devices require. The limited amount of spectrum available to networks combined with the data demands of bandwidth-consuming devices may result in efficiency and performance tradeoffs, affecting the end-users’ experiences. Cellular networks have a blend of technologies which require ongoing updates and support. And the deployment of cell sites varies as zoning restrictions and availability of physical locations or structures to mount a tower or antenna play an integral part.
Finding economically viable ways to efficiently and effectively utilize spectrum and address the bandwidth crisis is critical to support increased network demands. In a recent interview, Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC, stated: “We need to explore new ways to get spectrum into the market. We need to find ways to drive more efficient uses of spectrum. We need to think big about ways to allocate spectrum.”
Recognizing the need for a more efficient spectrum allocation model, the FCC instituted secondary market rules that allow many licenses to be transferred and “re-leased” to a secondary entity, a first step towards more efficient spectrum usage. This provides users of spectrum more opportunities to acquire the spectrum they need while encouraging license holders to practice dynamic spectrum allocation, or spectrum sharing, including geographic partitioning, time sharing and frequency disaggregation.
Recently, the advent of dynamic spectrum allocation is providing the wireless industry an alternative to the traditional networking and static allocation schemes which have been overtaken by the latest technology. Dynamic spectrum allocation allows license holders to utilize all available spectrum in order to deliver the necessary bandwidth to support projected demands. Leveraging existing radio technologies with existing spectrum centric databases create the solutions to dynamically transfer excess spectrum from one use (or user) to another, allowing users (i.e. network operators, first responders, utilities, etc.) to move freely between spectrum and networks regardless of the owners. Capitalizing on the availability of unused licensed and readily available unlicensed spectrum (including Wi-Fi and TV White Spaces) creates a wide range of spectrum and bandwidth options for the wireless community.
The wireless industry continues to grow and with it comes the demand for critical resources. As carriers and operators struggle to meet the demands of the market, new technologies and creative solutions are necessary. The FCC’s secondary market initiative provides an avenue for freeing up underutilized spectrum. Current technology and market-based solutions are providing the means to distribute bandwidth both effectively and efficiently. Dynamic spectrum allocation is the means and the opportunity to solve the spectrum/bandwidth crisis.
Joe Hamilla is chief operating officer at Spectrum Bridge.