Radio map may tune in wave of innovation

In one of the most detailed radiofrequency mapping projects ever carried out in Britain, one technology innovator is undertaking the first Britain-wide radio spectrum monitoring for Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for British communications industries with responsibilities across TV, radio, telecoms and wireless services.

The project, run by Cambridge Radio Frequency Services (CRFS), will enable Ofcom to begin to build a detailed picture of radio spectrum use — $75.5 billion or 3% of GDP — in key frequency bands (100 MHz to 5 GHz) across the country.

CRFS has its own purpose-built and technically advanced real-time spectrum monitoring system and data gathering system that could be used on behalf of a variety of similar agencies across the world and also has potential telecoms and military/defence applications.

The radio spectrum database is being built up from raw data collected by a small fleet of vehicles fitted with the company’s RFeye monitoring units over a number of months to further populate the Britain-wide spectrum use database. CRFS is also providing its own data-analysis tools as part of the project.

Ofcom’s aim is to promote the most efficient use of Britain's valuable spectrum resource, benefiting consumers by providing access to new services, greater choice and competition.

"However, it is difficult to be sure that we are optimising the use of the spectrum without information on its usage and quality in different parts of the country and across different frequency bands," said Gary Clemo, Ofcom's R&D manager.

"Information from the CRFS system should help us with our plans to introduce market mechanisms in spectrum management and in releasing the commercial value of spectrum in the future."

According to David Cleevely, chairman and co-founder of CRFS, today’s spectrum management systems rely mainly on rules of thumb and theoretical modelling, likened to driving a car with no speedometer, odometer or fuel gauge.

“Our RFeye system will enable Ofcom and other spectrum managers, such as the Ministry of Defence and mobile phone operators, to fully exploit this valuable economic resource.

"Interference is one the biggest drains on the profitability of mobile phone operators because it stops a large number of calls from being terminated,” he explained.

“With access to spectrum monitoring data, operators could tune their networks and save literally millions of pounds each year. What’s more, by providing this in-depth knowledge of the spectrum, we believe that this could unleash a new wave of communications innovation worth billions of pounds.”

RFeye is a distributed, GPS-based interference measurement system that can survey radio spectrum and analyse it in real time. Advanced features enable CRFS to claim its service goes beyond what is available or achievable with existing equipment.

Applications for RFeye include frequency interference detection, spectrum usage database, licence enforcement, spectrum release and liberalisation, cell planning, RF environment check and remote site monitoring.

Alistair Massarella, CEO of CRFS, said:

“Our RFeye system is less expensive than existing specialised monitoring systems and provides an improvement in quality and functionality when compared with similar products.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with Ofcom on this project and believe that our solution will be of interest to telecommunications regulators, operators and equipment manufacturers the world over.”

RFeye can operate on multiple power options and ensures secure backhaul (data transmission to the central data-gathering station) over TCP/IP internet communications protocols using Wi-Fi, DSL (digital transmission via the landline telephone network) and ethernet.

Local bulk storage can be provided with USB or solid RAM facilities. These features allow the system to be used in a variety of environments from isolated fixed outdoor installations to mobile applications.

Further enhancing its mobile potential, CRFS recently released a new self-contained version housed in a compact backpack complete with antennas, power supply, communications and local storage.

This will allow simple and discreet or covert sweeps of an area by a single person on foot, allowing spectrum users, regulators, law enforcement and intelligence agencies to verify real-time spectrum use and check for anomalous emissions.

The backpack system can store results locally for later analysis or communicate its findings in real time to a control centre anywhere in the world. It can also be remotely controlled and configured.

“The units are already making a contribution in policing spectrum usage, border monitoring, perimeter protection and counterterrorism and the backpack will add a key extra capability for our users,” said Alistair Massarella.