Update to Forum

Taking the work of the Forum to the next stage

28th January 2014

Prof. Jim Norton FREng

Chair UK Spectrum Policy

Forum

Past President BCS, The

Chartered Institute for IT

External Board Member UK

Parliamentary Office of

Science & Technology

www.profjimnorton.com

• Long term challenges.

• Short term challenges.

• Actions proposed:

Changing the political weather.

Public sector spectrum management.

Creating a medium/long-term vision.

Exploring future spectrum access.

Maximising UK international influence.

Fair and equitable framework for user migration.

Areas to be covered

• What is the most desirable outcome to ensure adequate

spectrum access for all spectrum users in the future

(2025-2030) given the growing demand for spectrum?

And what are the intermediate (range of) technological

developments and spectrum options to be considered?

• What actions need to be taken by industry, government,

and Ofcom to realise these outcomes?

• Given the international dependencies on the decision

making in the ITU and Europe, what can be done to

enhance the leadership position of the UK in these

international negotiations?

Long term challenges

• Help improve governance arrangements across government for

strategic decisions on spectrum in general, and decisions on public

sector spectrum in particular, commensurate to the importance of

spectrum for the UK economy and the increasing importance of

spectrum sharing between public and private sectors.

• Insert into its legal vires, the promotion of innovation as a specific top-

level obligation for Ofcom.

• Increase substantially the resources available for the representation

of the UK in international fora and to facilitate industry

• Improve international harmonisation of spectrum use, leading to

economy of scale advantages.

• Review current assignment or license-exemption arrangements to

ensure that they optimally support innovation and competition and

facilitate the most economically efficient use of the spectrum.

Short term challenges

• Collate existing study data on the economic and social value of spectrum and

the evolving demand for spectrum. (March 2014)

• Conduct a series of meetings with Departmental ‘Special Advisers’ across

Whitehall, seeking to raise perceptions of the priority of increasing budgets

for international spectrum negotiation and management. (April 2014)

• Identify gaps, and conduct any necessary primary research on the economic

and social value of spectrum. (July 2014)

• Working with the Information Economy Council, develop recommendations

on steps for the creation of the joined up environment to ensure UK is home

to both a world class wireless infrastructure and the development of critical

wireless technologies. (September 2014

Changing the political weather

Spectrum is an important and scarce strategic resource both for UK and its major

competitors. The sector also provides high value skills and careers. In ensuring that

the UK maximises these benefits and avoids ‘benefit leakage’ overseas,

Government Departments, regulator and industry need to play their part in a joined

up landscape from research, technology development, regulatory environment,

investment climate, availability of relevant skills, and effective influence in

international (spectrum and regulatory) negotiations. The Forum will:

• support DCMS as it develops new proposals for UK public

sector spectrum governance. It will also work to highlight

opportunities for greater sharing between public and

private sector spectrum users. (March 2014)

Public sector spectrum management

Given the crucial and increasing importance of spectrum for

UK economic and social welfare, the governance

arrangements for managing Government policy on

spectrum and decisions on public sector spectrum need to

be much better joined up and with clear lines for roles and

responsibility across Government Departments and Ofcom.

The Forum should:

• Conduct a programme of sector by sector spectrum demand studies (via

Cluster 1) to capture the current shape of spectrum usage and technology

applications and how this may evolve in the next 10 – 15 years. (June 2014)

• Develop a report of the spectrum usage landscape identifying a comprehensive

picture of the diverse applications of spectrum. (October 2014)

• Conduct a programme of workshops (via Cluster 2) to develop a better

understanding of future spectrum access mechanisms and their potential impact

on both usage and technology deployment. The long term trends and role of

convergence between services currently delivered on separate infrastructures

will also be investigated. (October 2014)

• Conduct a study of issues affecting spectrum utilisation and non utilisation,

assess current techniques and develop ideas for improvements for the effective

utilisation of spectrum. (December 2014)

• Drawing on the above work, publish a UK Spectrum Policy Forum Report and

Conference on the future shape of UK spectrum demand, as both technology

and access methods evolve, highlighting its potential impact on spectrum

allocation policy. (March 2015)

Creating a medium/long-term vision

Look “over the horizon” with a 2025-30 timeframe at markets, networks & technology:

The evolutionary changes described earlier will affect the shape of both

future spectrum demand and the range of spectrum access mechanisms

being used. (e.g. licensed / exclusive, licensed / shared, dynamic access

and unlicensed access. Will current approaches (including on auctions) be

optimal for future scenarios where systems may require very large

bandwidths and shared networks/spectrum may deliver efficiency or cost

savings? Different innovative approaches may provide alternative options in

certain scenarios. Other dynamic or geographic spectrum assignment

options may also be beneficial in some applications. The regulatory

implications of any alternative approaches need to be considered. The

Forum will:

• Bring to bear the expertise of its diverse range of members to investigate

future options and will conduct research and provide recommendations.

(March 2015)

Exploring future spectrum access

• Collate and present evidence to support the economic case for

increased resources and improved international engagement.

(September 2014)

• Review the current position in terms of UK’s international influence (on

spectrum) and develop recommendations on the re-establishment of its

leading position in spectrum management, with a view to securing the

influence required to take forward its economic and social interests and

support UK-based product and service providers. This will build on the

actions described in theme one. (November 2014)

Maximising UK international influence

At a global level, negotiations and decisions made at ITU have an

increasing bearing on UK benefits. The geo political dynamics between

member states and regional blocks have changed over recent years and

the UK needs to update its approach in terms of its bilateral and

multilateral influence in international spectrum negotiations. At a regional

level CEPT remains an important forum in developing common European

positions for international meetings. The Forum will:

• Conduct research and provide recommendations as necessary.

Fair and equitable framework for user migration

We will work with Government and Ofcom to ensure that those displaced

by necessary spectrum re-organisation and re-allocation are supported

through transition with adequate advanced warning and, where

appropriate, financial support. The Forum will: