Cambridge Wireless

Cambridge Wireless


Joint ICT KTN and Cambridge Wireless Free Event, ‘The Future of Spectrum Usage’

Cambridge Wireless is delighted to present a free full-day event in association with ICT KTN. This one-day workshop will bring together spectrum regulators, spectrum users, and technology innovators to map out the existing spectrum allocation processes in the UK and Europe, and identify ways that industry could better participate now and into the future. How can we identify interference problems earlier in the process

Start date/time :  09:00 07th November 2012
End date/time :  17:30 07th November 2012
Venue :  Homerton College, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PH

 
Radio spectrum is essential to wireless businesses, from broadcasting to cellular mobile to wireless LAN and accurate positioning.  Today’s communications landscape is founded on the release of licensed and licence-exempt spectrum for mass-market communication devices.  As demand has increased, the main users of large parts of the radio spectrum have to cooperate in coordinated “re-farming”, which involves rebuilding networks for new frequencies and re-equipping users with new terminals.  Often the new and old users suffer mutual interference at least for a period and a large part of the coordination task is managing and solving interference problems, by for example new licensees having to supply filters or even new equipment to affected users. 
 
Recent experience has shown that the problems are often underestimated.  Here are a few examples:
  • Whilst it was recognised that LTE800 equipment using digital dividend spectrum might cause interference with digital TV receivers the likely extent and severity of the problems is only now becoming apparent.  In 3 years time, the process of releasing more TV spectrum will start, TV networks will need to be retuned yet again, and possibly new interference issues will emerge.
  • LTE800 equipment may also interfere with short-range devices at around 862 MHz.  Not only are these devices used for safety-related applications such as social alarms, but the band may be critical for Smart Energy Home-Area Networks.
  • New business opportunities are being progressed using TV White Space spectrum, but with new information emerging about the actual susceptibility of the installed TV receiver base and the allocation of a significant part of the present uhf TV band for mobile post-2015, just how much White Space might be available?
  • In the USA, LightSquared raised a large amount of capital to build a terrestrial LTE network which would use downlink spectrum adjacent to the civilian GPS band.  Whilst the change of use was initially allowed by the FCC, the GPS community raised a storm of protest and subsequent investigations showed that widespread LightSquared rollout would jam many GPS applications ranging from consumer vehicle navigation to aircraft landing systems.  As a result the application has been barred by the FCC and LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy.
 
How did these situations arise so late in the game?  Do we have the right structures and processes in place to explore interference issues early enough?  How will co-existence issues be worked out in the era of Cognitive Access?  This one-day workshop will bring together spectrum regulators, users, and innovators; map out the existing processes in the UK and Europe, and identify ways that the industry could better participate if appropriate.
 
This joint event is championed by Cambridge Wireless Board Member, Stirling Essex of Espansivo, Cambridge Wireless Radio SIG Champion, John Haine of u-blox UK Ltd and Stuart Revell, Chairman of ICT KTN Wireless Technology & Spectrum Working Group.
 
Join us for this FREE Cambridge Wireless and ICT KTN event. To be able to attend this event for free you'll automatically be registered as an ICT KTN member. Please note membership of ICT KTN is free.
 
To join Cambridge Wireless as a member and attend future events for free, please visit:

See also:
Organisation:  Cambridge Wireless