Spectrum Management - A Regulator View & QOS

Spectrum management can be broadly classified into Global Management and local management.

• Spectrum management at Global level ensures the Harmonized utilization of spectrum by

different nations, which is an essential need to evolve a cost effective device system, support
international roaming, facilitate interconnection and provide economical radio
communication services.

• The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency which plays
the role of spectrum management at global level.

• At the World Radio-communication Conference (WRC), convened roughly every four years,
the governments determine changes to the allocation of spectrum to different services in the
future.

• ITU-T Telecommunication standardization of network and service aspects

• ITU-R Radio communication standardization and global spectrum management

• ITU-D Assisting implementation and operation of telecommunications in developing countries

Administration of radio communication sector, monitoring of spectrum utilization, regulation of

market, conduction of strategic case studies and development of the sector are key role of the
Spectrum Mgmt Authority in the national level.

Importance of spectrum Management:

 Lower frequencies can travel longer distances and penetrate solid objects and earth and sea.
 But the bandwidth available on this spectrum is very less and hence the information that can
be carried is very less
 More over lower the frequency bigger the size of antenna
 HF (3Mhz to 30Mhz) which is the more suitable range of Low frequency spectrum for
communication purposes . But the propagation characteristic depends on properties of
Ionosphere which varies largely over the day.
 Some of the applications of Low frequency spectrum are given below

This is the only band that can penetrate hundreds of meters

below the surface of the ocean. The US Navy transmits ELF
messages using a huge antenna in Wisconsin and Michigan
Extremely created by several miles of cable on towers in conjunction with
30 Hz -
ELF low the underlying bedrock. This band is used to send short coded
300 Hz "phonetic letter spelled out" (PLSO) messages to deeply
frequency
submerged submarines that are trailing long antenna wires. The
communication is only one way, therefore it is used primarily for
prearranged signals or to direct the submarine to come closer to
 the surface for faster communications. Environmental factors do
not have a strong influence on changing the signal and therefore
it is quite reliable.
Voice
frequency
VF or 300 Hz - This band can also penetrate through the earth and sea water. It
or
ULF 3 kHz is used for communications in mines.
Ultra Low
frequency
Useful for submarine communications when the submarine
cannot surface, but can come close to the surface. VLF is also
used for aircraft and vessel navigation beacons and for
Very low 3 kHz -
VLF transmitting standard frequencies and time signals.
frequency 30 kHz VLF systems serve as a back-up for global communication use
during hostilities when nuclear explosions may disrupt higher
frequencies or satellites are destroyed by enemy actions

Low 30 kHz - A primary use for LF systems are for airport and vessel
LF navigation. For example, the LORAN navigation system uses
frequency 300 kHz 100 kHz.

Medium 300 kHz - Commercial AM radio stations

MF This band is used for communications, international distress
frequency 3 MHz frequencies and for search and rescue.
High 3 MHz - used for long range ("over-the-horizon") radar and military
HF
frequency 30 MHz communication

Spectrum management ensures that the low frequency spectrum is not encroached upon by
applications other than for military and special purpose communication.
As a tradeoff between range of communication and availability of bandwidth the Very High
Frequency VHF (30-300MHz) and Ultra High Frequency UHF (300 MHz to 3GHz) are used for
most of commercial communications.
As the available spectrum is limited and the ineffective utilization may affect the
Communication domain of the whole nation, effective spectrum management is absolute
necessity from the regulator’s point of view.

Too liberal policies on spectrum management may lead to acquiring of large spectrum by
individual or group of entities and thereby block the entry of new players to avoid
competition. At the same time very stringent spectrum policies may choke the communication
industry. Hence a well balanced policy on Spectrum Management is inevitable for ensuring
effective utilization of spectrum that leads to overall growth in Communication industry and
providing a service that meets QoS Benchmarks at the lowest possible costs to the customer.
Ineffective spectrum management may lead to loss of revenue to the government.
Elements of spectrum Management

Spectrum Engineering support : Engineering knowledge and analytical capabilities are

required for understanding and analysing technical issues pertaining to Spectrum.
Frequency Coordination : As hinted earlier the various bands identified must be used for the
desired applications without one interfering with the other.
Spectrum planning : Within the identified blocks of spectrum assessing the requirement of
bandwidth and ensuring availability of such bandwidths for allocation.
Licensing Assignment and administration: Ensure that only serious players obtain licenses.
After the license is awarded monitor compliance with license conditions.
Spectrum Allocation & pricing : Spectrum can be allocated either by allocation by the
Government at a determined price or through auction.
Spectrum trading : Spectrum trading enables the entity holding rights for use of the spectrum
to trade the rights with those requiring it.
Spectrum monitoring and Enforcement : The objective is to ensure interference free access to
the spectrum for the licensee. It also ensures that the licensing conditions are not violated and
the spectrum is efficiently used.

Spectrum Management in India :

WPC (Wireless Planning Cell) is the wing of Government of India that performs the spectrum
management in India. It obtains proposals from TRAI(Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)
the telecom watchdog of the Government. The following bands have been identified for the
technologies mentioned.

Band Frequency Range Quantum Technology

(MHz) of
Bandwidth
MHz

700 MHz 698-806 (703- 2x45 MHz LTE (4G)

748/758-803) FDD

800 MHz 824-844/869-889 2x20 MHz CDMA (2G), LTE

FDD (4G)

900MHz 890-915/935-960 2x25 MHz GSM (2G), HSPA

FDD (3G)
 1800MHz 1710-1785/1805- 2x75 MHz GSM (2G),
1880 FDD LTE(4G)

2100 1920-1980/2110- 2x60 FDD HSPA(3G)

MHz 2170

2300 2200-2300 100 TDD LTE-TD

MHz

2500 2500-2690 MHz 190 (Both LTE

MHz FDD and
TDD
possible)

The spectrum in the 800 MHz band has been used for CDMA services whereas the spectrum in the 900
MHz and 1800 MHz band has been used for GSM band. However, spectrum assigned in these bands
through auction is liberalised spectrum i.e. the operator may use technology in these bands. First
allocation of spectrum was done in Beauty Parade method. In this method the interested parties
make a presentation in response to the tender calling for allocation of spectrum. The government
chooses one of them for allocation of the spectrum. Subsequent allocations were made on the basis
of auction. At present the spectrum has been unbundled from the license. Licenses being issued are
unified licences and the license holder can provide any communication service of its choice. In case of
wireless communication the licensee has to obtain spectrum through market driven process like
auction or spectrum trading. Spectrum monitoring and Enforcement is carried out by two wings of
DOT namely TRAI and TERM. While the TRAI is involved with all prime activities TERM is engaged in
ground level monitoring of various directives other than that pertaining to QoS.

Proper Spectrum management ensures interference free access to spectrum allocated to each
technology and entity. It also ensures that in spite of maintaining good spectral efficiency the
minimum spectrum requirement for each licensee is met at the appropriate time. By ensuring
allotment frequency bands to various services in accordance with the global trend, the environment
for achievement of optimum QoS is ensured.