Ofcom unveils new spectrum roadmap

Ofcom is consulting on its recently-published ‘Spectrum Roadmap’ which details its spectrum management approach in the coming years.

The roadmap highlights the strategic work areas that Ofcom will focus on to ensure it delivers on its spectrum management strategy – set out in July 2021.

Accordingly, it introduces a significant number of new proposals, such as reviewing the impact of technology and network converging, exploring the use of ‘sandboxes’ in specific bands like 6 GHz or THz frequencies to enable testing and spectrum sharing, or obtaining more real world data for better spectrum management. 

As new services emerge and demand for spectrum continues to grow, Ofcom notes it has taken a strategic approach to ensure that innovative and new technologies can be embraced alongside existing services and incumbents. 

Future work areas are grouped into three themes

Network evolution and convergence

1. Monitoring and influencing the development of next-generation network technologies, such as 6G, WiFi satellite, as well as hybrid networks 

2. Developing a cross-sectoral understanding of evolving and existing spectrum demand, in particular at 6 GHz 

3. Impact of fibre roll-out on future use of wireless fixed links

4. Assessing the implications of new technologies on spectrum management, like automatic coordination, AI and Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces

5. Review potential for migration from ‘dedicated’ to ‘general purpose’ networks

Accelerating innovation and spectrum sharing

1.  To enable ‘spectrum sandboxes’ to accelerate innovation and develop new ways to share spectrum. Potential bands for 'sandboxes' may include the lower 6 GHz band; 3.8-4.2 Ghz or terahertz frequencies.

Better data for improved spectrum management

1. Using real-world data to improve propagation and coexistence modelling

2. mproving our understanding of the real-world performance of active antenna systems (AAS)

3. Improving receiver resilience

4. Using real-world data to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our spectrum assurance work

5. Measuring utilisation in selected spectrum bands

The roadmap also explains how spectrum is used today and notes some of the key market and technological trends Ofcom has considered in developing its proposed future programme of work. Some of these include:

• Increased need for network resilience, as wireless technologies are becoming more and more crucial to the economy and people’s lives

• Increasing demand for spectrum from a wide range of users

• Growing role of satellite networks in delivering terrestrial services;

• A growing role for wireless connectivity in the digital transformation of industry

• Potential shift towards ‘general purpose’ network technologies, given that technologies, like mobile, Wi-Fi, satellite and fibre, are becoming more versatile and capable of supporting a wide range of uses

• Shift towards higher frequencies

• Emerging spectrum sharing and interference management technologies

• Greater access to real-world data and improvements in modelling capabilities