Software-Defined Radio

SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO (SDR) REGULATOR’S FORUM – Monday 15 September 2003

The Radiocommunications Agency co-sponsored (with Mobile VCE) a one-day forum on SDR technology which was held at the DTI Conference Centre in London. This event reviewed current SDR approaches and the potential regulatory actions required of national spectrum managers.

The objective of this event was to provide a contribution to the future regulatory agenda, and the development of a co-ordinated approach to regulation, to avoid undesired restrictions or delays.

Background

Software-defined radio has been identified (in the Cave report, inter alia) as technology that will significantly impact future spectrum regulation. It has also been identified by the FCC’s Spectrum Policy Task Force as an enabling technology that potentially will facilitate more efficient spectrum utilisation, and in Asia is seen as a key mobile communications technology. The nature of spectrum regulation is that changes require international co-ordination and are thus are slowly moving, with a long transition timescale.

In the field of software-defined radio, the FCC issued its first Report and Order (R&O) in September 2001. It instigated a follow-on inquiry on SDR security issues and has subsequently enquired on the potential for unlicensed usage of TV spectrum, which could be facilitated by software radio technology. In Europe, TCAM has issued a consultation document on SDR, whilst in Japan a study committee was due to report in March 2003, with wider consultation planned to follow. In many countries understanding of SDR, its real potential benefits and implications, both short and long term, and approaches to regulation are however still not well understood. Global free movement of software-reconfigurable terminals and realisation of the spectrum benefits of SDR require a co-ordinated international approach to regulation.

Programme:

(Click on the title to view the presentation in Adobe PDF format)

For further information:

Professor Trevor Clarkson, Head of Engineering and Research
Trevor.Clarkson@ra.gsi.gov.uk