Spectrum Management

Spectrum Usage

All regulators need to know what the real use of spectrum is. As the saying goes, "you can't manage something you can't measure". There is therefore a huge need to assemble data, monitor and compare real use with that data, inspect installations and enforce policy. Without these actions, spectrum management becomes an open-loop system, where decisions are made without the benefit of knowledge.

The need for loop closure varies across the world and is very culture-dependent. In liberalised environments, inspection of communications stations is limited whereas in less developed countries, inspection is essential to form a foundation for that liberalisation. Likewise, enforcement takes on different forms: in nation states embracing market economics, the markets take a key role and undertake actions normally done by regulators.

In the same way, monitoring is moving from station localisation and spectrum policing to development of usage statistics as regulators balance risk with economic benefit. These usage statistics then feed policymaking in search of both efficiency and effectiveness of spectrum use.

InterConnect has been instrumental in developing policies, specifications and methods for optimisation of spectrum use. Its consultants understand spectrum and regularly advise regulators and operators to close the management loop and hence develop policy and strategy from a position of knowledge.