Home > Research and Market Data > Technology research > Research > Aiding Spectrum Liberalisation > Spectrum Aggregation

The fragmentation of spectrum - due to the adoption of more spectrally efficient technologies, of old techniques not using frequencies efficiently, of allocations not being used and also for historical reasons of allocating spectrum - presents considerable challenges for efficient management of the radio spectrum.

The fragmentation of spectrum not only represents changes in user requirements and services but is also the product of the regulatory environment. Making effective use of multiple and simultaneously available spectral fragments, vacated or otherwise unused/underutilised, for new or alternative services represents an evolutionary development in the use and management of the radio spectrum.

Spectrum aggregation is the collective term for this. The identification of resource usage both practically and as expected from a knowledge of the licensed allocations might well show some differences. This represents a starting block on which to establish whether there are usable fragments available for use, through trading or otherwise, by others.

The general consensus is that there are gains to be had by using spectrum more efficiently and, for the case of fragmentation, some advantage will occur through aggregating these fragments. This bold concept raises many issues dealing with the human perceptions of ownership and of technical solutions to meet these challenges. Yielding resource for the ‘common good’, identification and management of resource, regaining control for legitimate assets after a temporary loan to a third party require economic as well as technical assessment.

The economic arguments for supporting new services through spectrum aggregation needs to be developed in concert with business need, pay-out and pay-back for what is, at least superficially, a much more complex (and certainly different) resource allocation regime.

So, the development of new business opportunities, economic predictions, the impact of regulatory and policy developments on the use and deployment of spectrum plus the technical means to achieve a coherent and unobtrusive mechanism for spectrum aggregation represents a significant national issue.

The study will begin with a thorough review of available literature to identify the location of fragments and under-utilised spectrum. Resource requirements for specific services will be identified and these will form the basis for a study of geographically based protocols for economic trading and the implications of radio design.

From this early part of the study two or three aggregation methods will be selected for a modelling assessment of their efficiency and suitability of new and novel services. Regulatory issues that might occur in using and deploying aggregated spectrum will be considered as an impact on the powers and controls that Ofcom may need to in exercising its statutory duties. Finally, recommendations on the best way for the implementation of aggregated spectrum will be made, including a ‘road map’ and likely international standardisation effort needed to reduce the radio cost.

The final report is now available.

• A Study for the Provision of Aggregation of Frequency to Provide Wider Bandwidth Services [pdf]

Back to top