Spectrum revolution to end scarcity

Kalpak Gude, president of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, said today that the ‘spectrum revolution’ is integral to the future 5G world, and predicted an “end of scarcity”.

Speaking at the Pacific Telecommunications Council annual conference in Hawaii, Gude said that while there have been, and continue to be, great technological advancements, the industry must face reality.

“We must either embrace new sharing techniques to drive spectrum efficiency, while still protecting incumbent services, or continue to spend our energy on the spectrum battles of scarcity and diminish the possibilities of the future wireless world,” he said.

“Spectrum auctions are a symbol of scarcity — a way to ration what we have left; however, it focuses energy in the wrong place,” he added.

“Every conversation about spectrum today begins and ends with the question of limits, but the spectrum revolution can end this.

“With the technological advances that have occurred, spectrum scarcity is not a necessary law of nature.

“Dynamic spectrum sharing is a solution to overcome, and ultimately end, the focus on limits, and it will be at the heart of the future 5G world.”

Gude cautioned that 5G is about more than just faster internet — it is about satisfying societal expectations of being connected anywhere and everywhere, without limits.

“To satisfy the expectations, however, 5G cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach to spectrum management if it is to meet the differing demands,” he said.

“Low-band, mid-band and high-band spectrum, each with its own strengths, will need to be available and abundant.

“Dynamic spectrum sharing, with a regulatory structure embracing unlicensed and lightly licensed regulations, is the only way to satisfy these growing spectrum requirements.

“In turn, this will enable the IoT and provide connectivity anywhere and everywhere to bring the benefits of the connected future to the four billion that currently are not part of the global conversation.”

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance’s fifth annual Global Summit will take place from 9 to 11 May 2017, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Image courtesy NIST.

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