Technologies and techniques for the dynamic distribution and regulation of radio spectrum are to be developed in Ireland, following the allocation of 50MHz for experimental work by ComReg, the country’s regulator.
The multi-university Centre for Telecommunications Value-chain Research (CTVR) has been given 25MHz centred at 2.08GHz, and another 25MHz at 2.35GHz.
“We are at liberty to experiment very broadly within that, and we have a hugely flexible, adaptive platform to make use of the spectrum,” said Dr Linda Doyle of Trinity College Dublin, who leads the software radio work.
“It’s a software reconfigurable network, not just a radio. Everything in the communications stack is flexible, from the applications right down to the physical layer,” she said.
The CTVR will incorporate expertise in each aspect of radio network, from antenna design, to hardware front-ends, software, and electronic payment. As well as the adaptive technologies needed, distribution and trading models will also be investigated.
“Currently spectrum is dealt with in quite a static way,” said Doyle. “What we want to explore is opportunistic use of spectrum, you would be able to sense [unused] holes that were there and opportunistically use them for your communication session.”
With the technologies in place, spot markets, spectrum letting, sub-letting, and pooling are all possible methods of distributing spectrum more quickly and efficiently.
First steps to a more fluid regime have already been taken in the UK by Ofcom, which has introduced elements of spectrum trading and liberalisation.
Professor Donal O’Mahony, head of the CVTR, said the fact that Ireland’s spectrum is relatively less cluttered than in other countries, and that the country is comprised by an island, meant it was well suited to this kind of experimental work.
Part of the aim is to develop spin out companies, involve Irish SMEs, and tempt multinational companies to site their spectrum research in the country.
www.ctvr.ie