1. Where to with mm Wave Spectrum? Future Wireless Technology Forum
William Stucke
mmWave - 29 May 2014

2. Issues to Consider Need For Speed What is Spectrum? Spectrum Fees
Spectrum Licensing Concepts
Regulatory Framework
Licencing Models
Objective of the Workshop
The views expressed here are those of the Author and do not necessarily reflect those of his employer

4. Need For Speed Fixed Mobile Satellite Spectrum shortage? Copper Fibre
Fixed Wireless (incl. Microwave)
Free Space Optics
Mobile
Satellite
Spectrum shortage?
Only if spectrum is inefficiently used
New spectrum bands are becoming useful

5. What is Spectrum?
“Spectrum” is the range of electromagnetic frequencies of interest.
ICASA regulates from 9 kHz to 1000 GHz (1 THz)
FM Radio uses from 87.5 MHz to 104 MHz
UHF TV Broadcasting uses from 470 – 860 MHz
Cellphones use 900, 1800, 2100 MHz bands, etc.
Visible light is 400 – 789 THz
ICASA only has a Spectrum Licensing Framework up to 30 GHz
This FWTF Workshop is about dealing with frequencies higher than 30 GHz

6. Spectrum Fees
ICASA introduced an Administered Incentive pricing Scheme for Spectrum, taking effect in April 2012
This attempts to model market forces, by making use of seven factors for costing spectrum usage.
There are two forms of the equation, one for PtP and one for PtMP uses of spectrum
The assumption is that a Spectrum Licence is issued for a period of one year, and the fee for that year is paid in advance.

7. Fee=(UNIT*BW*FREQ*CG*GEO*SHR*HOPMINI*UNIBI)
Spectrum Fee Formula
Fee=(UNIT*BW*FREQ*CG*GEO*SHR*HOPMINI*UNIBI)
Fundamental principle is paying for the amount of spectrum used:
Fee = Unit cost per MHz * Number of MHz
Fee = UNIT (R2000) * BW
Modified by a number of numerical factors
Adds “incentives”
Encourages some uses, discourages others
Basic cost is multiplied by the factors, to increase or decrease the final fee
The minimum fee is defined as R120, to ease administration

8. Terms Used UNIT Cost per MHz (R2000) ZAR BW Bandwidth MHz
FREQ Frequency Band Factor
CG Congestion Factor
GEO Geographical Factor
SHR Sharing Factor
HOPMINI Minimum Hop Length Factor
ASTER Area Sterilisation Factor
UNIBI Uni- or bi-directional Factor

9. FREQ Factor

10. Benefits and Defects AIP Spectrum Pricing has been very effective
Simple spreadsheet easily available
Reduces cost of PtP links
Increases the cost of exclusivity
Penalises those who previously paid nothing – or very little
Increases efficiency
Led to significant amounts of spectrum being handed back
BUT
Higher frequency high bandwidth uses are unaffordable

11. The Problem with Fees at High Frequencies

12. Solution to the Fee problem?
Fairly simple – extend the FREQ table, giving lower values than 0.05 for Frequencies > 30 GHz
The cost of the same 5 GHz bandwidth at 60 GHZ varies with the FREQ value thus:
Scenario
FREQ Factor
Cost in High Density Area
Cost in Low Density Area
Current
0.05
R250,000
R25,000
Low
0.005
R2,500
Lower
0.001
R5,000
R500

13. Spectrum Licencing Concept of “Protection” Primary User Secondary User
Shared Use
Pre-defined Use
Licence Exempt
Dynamic Spectrum Assignment

14. Protection Allows many PtP Links

15. Regulatory Models Licence Exempt Licensing
Pay a fee, use is (usually) coordinated with other uses, protection obtained
Registration
Faster, cheaper, no protection?
“Light Licensing”
Dynamic Spectrum Assignment
= ???

16. Licence Exempt Model
Works well with Wi-Fi in the 2.4 & 5.8 GHz bands – within limits
Ideally suited for PECN uses, such as Personal Area Networks
No provision for protection – suck it and see
Might not be so good for long range commercial PtP use.

17. Dynamic Spectrum Assignment Model
Registration in a Geolocation Database
Dynamic Spectrum Assignment – calculates possible interference. If none, use is authorised
In effect, an automated licensed PtP Model
Same fee principle, with reduced FREQ factor
Fast response, no human intervention required under normal circumstances

18. Conventional Licensing
Well understood, well accepted
Good protection afforded
Same fee principle, with reduced FREQ factor
Slow and cumbersome
Inefficient
Expensive to implement

19. Over to You

20. Objective
To inform the regulator of industry-relevant and available technologies which can have real impact here and now.
To propose regulations and frameworks that will enable new opportunities for the industry and hence benefit all customers, be they individuals, businesses or enterprise consumers.

21. Thank you