Higher Frequency bands for Licence Exempt Applications

Purpose of the project

The purpose of this project is to analyse the options and implications of allocating frequencies above 30GHz to licence-exempt applications (LEA). A key outcome from this study is to answer the question as to whether all spectrum above a particular frequency should be licence-exempt and if so, what this frequency should be.

Background

In principle there are two reasons for making spectrum licence-exempt:

1. Because the economic value of doing so is greater than the economic value if the spectrum were licensed (SFR).
2. Because congestion is unlikely and hence the cost of licensing is unnecessary

To date, the majority of spectrum has fallen into the first category. However, higher frequencies reduce the probability of congestion because of the shorter range and higher likelihood that the use will be point-to-point. To date, there have not been studies looking into the likelihood of congestion versus frequency.

Work items to be studied

• Impact of frequency on congestion and hence whether there should be a bias towards unlicensed at higher frequencies.
• Understanding of existing uses and hence the restrictions of moving to licence-exempt allocations.
• Investigation of propagation impact at these frequencies.
• Investigation of capacity issues at higher frequencies taking into account the possibility of enforcing new polite protocols.
• Investigate and discuss the suitability of regulatory solutions being developed elsewhere in the world for use of this spectrum.
• Assess applications and/or market solutions either available or being developed/studied for these bands within the UK and Worldwide.
• Assess time to market for mass market products in these bands.
• Investigation of overall economic benefits associated with licensed versus licence exempt options at frequencies above 30GHz.
• Recommendations on whether all spectrum above a certain frequency should be licence exempt – for example above 40GHz.
• Recommendations as to whether licence-exemption or light touch licensing should be used at these frequencies.
• On what basis should exemption be applied e.g. generic limits on a technology neutral and generic service allocation basis.

The final report is available now.