Microsoft, Google Push Benefits of Dynamic Spectrum Sharing
Dynamic spectrum sharing can go a long way toward addressing a pending U.S. spectrum crisis, Microsoft and Google told the FCC in separate comments on a notice of inquiry. CTIA encouraged the FCC to press forward, but warned against imposing “involuntary spectrum easements on commercial mobile spectrum.” The FCC approved an NOI on dynamic spectrum access (DSA) at its Nov. 30 meeting (CD Dec 1 p2).
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"As the Commission has recognized, mobile data usage is exploding in the United States and the need for additional wireless broadband capacity will only continue to grow (likely exponentially),” Microsoft said. As was demonstrated in the TV white spaces proceeding “greater use of dynamic spectrum access [DSA] technologies will enable consumers to make more productive use of limited spectrum resources,” Microsoft said. The company encouraged the FCC to draw on lessons learned as the TV white spaces are used for wireless broadband: “In a relatively short period of time, spectrum databases are evolving from simple lookup tables to services providing primary and secondary users the ability to negotiate spectrum access and usage rights in real time.”
Microsoft recommended other bands the FCC should consider: including parts of the 960-1215 MHz radio navigation and amateur bands, as well as the 2360-2400 MHz, 2500-2655 MHz, 2900-3100 MHz and 3550-3650 MHz bands. The company counseled against the use of dynamic spectrum access in heavily used commercial bands.
Google said the FCC was correct to look at the various technologies together. “The dynamic access technologies enumerated in the NOI are indeed distinct, but examining them simultaneously in a single proceeding is conducive to creating a long-term spectrum plan with consistent policies that will promote greater predictability and innovation in wireless technologies,” Google said. The various technologies are “still nascent,” but “promise to increase spectral efficiency and, consequently, the number of users on a particular band.”
"CTIA understands the need to explore new and creative ways to use the scarce spectrum resource and welcomes the Commission’s efforts here,” the association said in its comments. But CTIA also sounded a note of caution, saying the NOI puts too much emphasis on spectrum sharing by third-party or autonomous end-user devices. “It is important for the Commission to recognize that commercial mobile providers use dynamic sharing technologies within their networks to improve spectrum efficiency and provide more and better services to millions and millions of subscribers,” the group said.
The record shows U.S. carriers make extremely efficient use of the spectrum they have, CTIA said. Carriers “employ a range of sophisticated dynamic sharing techniques, including a significant number of possible modulation and coding methods that change dynamically to enable the highest possible data rates,” CTIA said.
The Public Interest Spectrum Coalition urged the FCC to move forward to push more dynamic sharing, building on the TV white spaces model. “While the traditional carrier business model will demand more and more exclusive-use spectrum in the short-run to meet surging mobile data demand, it should be equally clear that this model is not sustainable longer term,” the group said. PISC represents in this case the Benton Foundation, Free Press, the Media Access Project, the New America Foundation and Public Knowledge.
Shared Spectrum Company, which develops DSA technologies, said the notice “asks important questions about the state of development of DSA and cognitive radio technologies, including those that use spectrum sensing, databases or other sharing capabilities.” The company recommended the FCC take “constructive, incremental steps” to encourage more dynamic use of spectrum.
"While T-Mobile, other carriers and manufacturers are continually working to increase spectrum efficiency, these advances alone will not keep pace with the skyrocketing consumer demand for higher bandwidth applications and the availability of new wireless service and rate plans,” T-Mobile said.
Public safety groups responded to questions in the NOI about dynamic use of public safety spectrum, urging the FCC to exercise care in this area. “To the extent [dynamic spectrum access] technology is trialed in public safety spectrum, it should be deployed by the public safety community to provide a full evaluation of any benefits or issues with respect to operational requirements and potential interference,” the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council said. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials said the FCC should “proceed very cautiously, as some of these technologies could create dangerous interference to essential public safety and other incumbent operations.”