Spectrum becomes a necessity

As broadband around the world changes from a luxury, to a key social and economic enabler, the need for affordable and universal access in SA becomes ever more critical, says Steve Song, telecommunications fellow at The Shuttleworth Foundation.

Song made this comment while facilitating the formation of the Open Spectrum Alliance (OSA). The new industry body aims to engage policy-makers, regulators, industry and civil society in a dialogue on wireless spectrum, and how the rapidly changing nature of wireless technologies opens up new possibilities for access for all.

The OSA was formed following a Wireless Application Providers Association general meeting and workshop, during which participants received briefings from Song and ICT lawyer Dominic Cull, of Ellipsis Regulatory Services, in Stellenbosch, earlier this week.

Song pointed out that, while it appeared demand for spectrum exceeded supply, “...this was not necessarily the case, as spectrum allocation was not efficiently managed and there was still a lot that could be done”.

He said “white spaces”, such as the unused bands between TV channels, could be used to allow smaller operators space to deliver access services without having to pay licence fees.

The problem we have is that there is no real transparency concerning who is allocated what frequency.

Dominic Cull, Ellipsis Regulatory Services

Another of the speakers, Ronnie Seeber, from Motorola, but speaking in his private capacity, said the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) needs to use proper geographic information systems in its allocation of frequencies.

“There are many instances where geographic features, such as hills and valleys, mean different users can use the same frequencies because these features shield them from one another,” he said.

Cull pointed out that ICASA still had to make public its 'Review of SA table of Frequency Allocation' for which public comment had been due on 28 August last year, but nothing had been forthcoming since then.

“The problem we have is that there is no real transparency concerning who is allocated what frequency, so new operators don't know what frequencies are available and what they can apply for,” he said.

The participants agreed that transparency in the management and assignment of spectrum was essential to equitable and efficient strategic use of spectrum.

They also called for expanded access to unlicensed spectrum and "lite" licensed spectrum, meaning allowing multiple users to use one spectrum, which opens up the potential for entrepreneurship and innovation in access delivery.

At the OSA's inaugural meeting, it was stated that the new association will promote public awareness of the potential of open spectrum policies for expanding affordable access in SA.

It will also look to engage policy-makers, regulators, industry and civil society in a dialogue on the opportunity that technical and administrative innovations in spectrum management represent for SA.

In particular, the OSA seeks to promote the existing unlicensed use of the 5.8GHz band, but with expanded EIRP (equivalent isotropic radiated power) limits of 200W for point-to-point links and 4W for point-to-multipoint links.

And, finally, the OSA will seek to demonstrate a model of industry self-regulation through an application for licensed spectrum, which might be shared among Open Spectrum Alliance partners.