Presented at UK Spectrum Policy Forum – Cluster 2 meeting 'DTG DSA Forum and discussions on PMSE' held on Thursday 9th July 2015 at DTG offices Presented by Tim Miller, Partner, Plum consulting

1. Plum Consulting, London | +44 (0)20 7047 1919 | www.plumconsulting.co.uk
Future spectrum sharing
scenarios
Tim Miller
UK Spectrum Policy Forum, Cluster 2
9 July 2015

2. Agenda
 Possible sharing
 Plausible sharing
 Public sector sharing
 Projected sharing
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3. What is sharing?
 More than one party using the
same frequency
・ Separated by time or
geography
・ Requires coordination
between parties
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Absolute
licences
Multiple licences
for the same
spectrum in
different regions
LSA
Defined protection
and usage
DSA
Usage undefined,
permissions set in
real time
Licence
exempt
No protection,
requiring sensing
and interference
protocols

4. The need for sharing
 Spectrum use needs to be more efficient
・ The number of spectrum using applications is growing
・ Many (but not all) spectrum using applications need more spectrum to cope
with rising demand (for example mobile, PMSE)
・ There are spectrum sweet spots where demand for spectrum is likely to peak
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0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
PB per month
Mobile data traffic projection

5. Existing sharing
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Defence
MobileBroadcasting
PMSE
 The UK Wireless Telegraphy Act regime is favourable for sharing
・ It does not have the exclusive use issues that occur in some other countries
・ There is an issue on licensing of databases

6. More sharing could be done
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Defence
MobileBroadcasting
PMSE
UtilitiesConsumer WiFi
Space
AeronauticalPPDR
Other public
sector users

7. Plausible sharing
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8. Successful sharing requires incentives
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• As far as possible incentives should align across incumbents and sharers
• Market driven is better than imposition
• No or wrong incentives = no effective sharing
Ability to make
viable investments
Ability to coexist
on a technical
basis
An adequate
compensation
mechanism
Favourable
regulatory
requirements
Political pressure

9. Different objectives – different solutions
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High
LSA
Low
Medium
DSA
Medium
Low
Licence
exempt
High
Reducing barriers to access
Increasing service range and quality

10. Balancing supply and demand
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Supply Demand
Certainty
Provide good
quality
Value for
money
Flexibility
Maintain
output
CompensationFinancial
Interference
Duration
Regulatory environment
voluntary | transparent | enforceable

11. Public sector sharing
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12. Public sector sharing
 In theory sharing could occur between any combination of incumbent and user
・ In reality some scenarios will be more likely than others
・ There is public sector spectrum that could be shared
 But public sector spectrum users need to be:
・ Incentivised to share
・ Legally able to share
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Commercial Public
Sharer
Incumbent
Commercial
Public

13. Public sector issues
 Is the Crown RSA process fit for purpose as a means to enable sharing of
spectrum?
・ Can it cope with change of use on a short or long term basis?
 Can public sector players who share spectrum be adequately compensated?
・ Most see this as an issue at the moment
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Agree LSA
contract
Issue new licence
Adjust licence if needed
Payment
Payment
Direct payment or reduced AIP
Sharer
Public sector
user
Ofcom
Central
government

14. Projected sharing
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15. Sharing in the long term
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 The easy pickings have mostly gone
・ Spectrum clearance will become more costly
 As the demand for spectrum increases, so will the value of spectrum
・ The willingness to pay for shared spectrum will increase
 Long term economic trends drive towards more spectrum sharing
・ There will be a role for both LSA and DSA
・ Technology improvements may make sharing easier
 The demand for shared spectrum will not just come from mobile
・ Other users will want access to shared spectrum
Defence
MobileBroadcasting
PMSE
UtilitiesConsumer WiFi
Space
AeronauticalPPDR
Other public
sector users

16. Issues to address
Need to clarify the regulatory
framework around sharing
• Ofcom should clarify what sharing
can currently be done (LSA?)
Need to ensure the pubic
sector can share spectrum
• Government should deal with the
regulatory and financial issues
Need to encourage the
market through transparency
of supply and demand
• Policy makers should make it easier
for supply and demand to match
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17. Tim Miller
@plumconsulting
+44 7904 971056
tim.miller@plumconsulting.co.uk
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