RadComms 2014: Innovations in Spectrum Management Lynne Fancy Senior Director Spectrum Development and Operations Industry Canada September 2014

1 Our Conundrum  Everybody wants more spectrum  Unmitigated demand for wireless capacity is a reality and its growth is exponential.  However, there is no corresponding exponential growth in the availability of spectrum  Everybody wants it faster  Most spectrum is encumbered A shared issue between regulators and industry Source: Spectrum Outlook, 2013 Forecast of Mobile Data Growth in Canada

2 Our Framework  Our Objective: Maximize the economic and social benefits that Canadians derive from the use of the radio frequency spectrum  Our Commitment: To apply real-world proven spectrum management practices so that we are prepared for an increasingly connected 5G world

3 How We’re Managing Allocation of new spectrum Focused research efforts Policies to encourage efficient use of spectrum

4 Allocation of New Spectrum  Committed to allocating 750 MHz of spectrum to commercial mobile services by the end of 2017, with the expectation that at least 1000 MHz will be required by 2020.

5 Allocation of New Spectrum Using different approaches to suit different needs  Auction formats  AWS: Simultaneous multiple round ascending auction  700 MHz: Combinatorial clock auction  AWS-3 (currently under consultation): Second price sealed bid  Deployment conditions, e.g., for rural deployment  Measures to encourage competition  Set asides  Auction caps

6 Focused Research Efforts  Need to find innovative answers for the future  Industry Canada is one of the few spectrum regulators with an in-house communications research centre focused on wireless  Three “grand challenges”:  Understanding how spectrum is used  Enabling smarter and more innovative means to access existing spectrum resources  Expanding our wireless capacity

7 Focused Research Efforts Spectrum Awareness - Understand how spectrum is used  Provide real-time spectrum utilization knowledge and applications to enable more effective use of spectrum  What spectrum is being used, by whom and how effectively  Facilitate dynamic spectrum use by multiple parties in the same band

8 Focused Research Efforts Spectrum Access - Enabling smarter and more innovative means to access existing spectrum resources  Existing licensing mechanisms are based on static rights over a long term, supporting investments  Need to balance with the need to stimulate innovative and flexible use of spectrum  Find technical solutions  Spectrum and network sharing  Dynamic spectrum access

9 Focused Research Efforts Breaking the Frequency Barrier – Expanding our Wireless Capability  Advance the use of higher frequency bands through research to address the growing demand for mobile services  Specifically looking at spectrum over 6 GHz  Will require public and private cooperation to succeed

10 Policies to encourage efficient use of spectrum  Collaborative solutions  Network sharing agreements  Mandated solutions  Tower sharing and roaming  “Use it or lose it”  Fees  Need to align fees with our objectives

11 Summary: How We’re Managing Allocation of new spectrum Innovative and focused research efforts Policies to encourage efficient use of spectrum

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