Page 57 - EE Times Europe September 2021

EE|Times EUROPE 57

Europe Struggling to Share Spectrum

And the continent’s large, small, and innovative communications ests of a claimed 750 operators — also recently chimed in to the debate,
equipment vendors are beginning to take a more proactive interest in proposing in an updated policy position paper that when clearing a
solving the myriad issues involved. band is not possible, spectrum sharing may help meet the increased
Ericsson, for example, has been promoting its dynamic spectrum- demand by enabling mobile access to additional bands when and where
sharing software for some time. Some European carriers are in trials other services are not actively using them. The document nonetheless
on the technology, and Swisscom has started using aspects of the concludes that the technique “cannot supplant the need for exclusively
solution to offer commercial 5G services. licensed mobile spectrum.”
The Swedish group’s portfolio allows both 4G and 5G to be de- The association notes that the global success of mobile services
ployed on the same band and on the same radio, via a sophisticated rests on the foundation of exclusively licensed spectrum, as it supports
software upgrade that dynamically allocates spectrum based on moni- widespread services and the certainty needed for long-term heavy net-
tored user demand. work investment and high-quality service. “Sharing should only have
Ericsson has worked with Qualcomm to refine dynamic spec- a complementary role to traditional spectrum licensing by allowing
trum sharing using mobile devices powered by both the 865 and 765 mobile services to access new bands where there are no other reason-
Snapdragon mobile platforms in conjunction with the Snapdragon 5G able alternatives,” GSMA argues.
Modem RF systems. MediaTek, provider of the Dimensity 1000 series, The position paper then lists eight points that GSMA believes must
is another chipset partner working with Ericsson to design techniques be the focus of careful planning. One important suggestion is that any
for spectrum sharing into devices. Ericsson is also partnering with new framework “should balance the current and future requirements of
mobile-device makers such as Xiaomi, Sony, LG, and Oppo. incumbents and sharers.” Another states that while sharing can play a
Meanwhile, there has recently been a bit more clarity on the regu- role in the 5G era, poor implementation risks harming 5G’s potential.
latory front. GSMA further advises regulators that they need to help incentivize
In late July, Ofcom outlined an updated and expanded strategy incumbents in attractive bands to share.
document detailing how it plans to manage the U.K.’s airwaves over All of this suggests that, despite the urgency of the questions to be
the next decade. As well as focusing on the need to make it easier to decided, this debate has a while to run its course. ■
access spectrum by allowing some specific frequencies to be used for
innovation while their long-term use is still being decided, the strategy REFERENCES
document specifies that the regulator will promote spectrum sharing. 1 J. Walko. “EU Boosts 6GHz Spectrum for Wi-Fi Use.” EE Times Europe. July 1,
Ofcom will “encourage better use of data and analysis when accessing 2021. bit.ly/2VlUyh7
conditions for sharing spectrum; wireless networks to be more resil- 2 European Commission Radio Spectrum Policy Group. “RSPG Report on Spectrum
ient to interference from other users; and users to strike the balance Sharing: A forward-looking survey.” RSPG21-016. Feb. 10, 2021. bit.ly/2WBa9KA
between protecting their services from interference while allowing
nearby users the flexibility to use their services.” John Walko is a technology writer and editor and a contributor to EE
The GSM Association (GSMA) — which represents the global inter- Times Europe.

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