Mixed Signals: the technical and economic impact of 6 GHz band configurations

Ahead of decisions to be made at WRC-27 on the identification of the 7125-7250 GHz band, the European Union has considered a number of ways in which the upper 6 GHz band can be split, or prioritised, between licence-exempt use and IMT, with a firm conclusion pending the outcomes of the 7 GHz band discussions.[…]

Arriving at our Destination: implications of autonomous vessels

In an earlier Insight from February 2023, we considered challenges which need to be addressed to make autonomous vessels a reality, and the current solutions which exist to overcome these challenges. The vision is a vessel that can undertake any sea journey (coastal or international) where the operating system of the vessel is able to[…]

Wi-Fi® Spectrum Requirements in China

Wi-Fi® plays a crucial role in the distribution of fixed broadband connectivity in homes, offices, and various other environments. The vast majority (up to 92%) of home internet traffic is connected to the end-user through Wi-Fi. In enterprise settings, Wi-Fi is essential for handling the large amounts of data and simultaneously connecting large number devices[…]

Wi-Fi Spectrum requirements

The EU’s Gigabit Infrastructure Act and the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 aim to ensure that a fixed Gigabit network (i.e., one providing connectivity at a downlink speed of 1 Gbps) covers all EU households. Wi-Fi plays a crucial role in the distribution of fixed broadband connectivity in homes, offices, and various other environments. The[…]

At sixes and sevens: sharing opportunities (or battles) in 6 GHz   

A hot topic at WRC 23 was the identification of further bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) under Agenda Item 1.2. Discussions and negotiation resulted in identification for IMT through a footnote to the Radio Regulations of the band 6425-7025 MHz in Region 1, and 7025-7125 MHz in Region 3. Both of these identifications exist[…]

Spectrum fees: saying the quiet part out loud

The European Commission’s white paper seems to contain an admission that a standard regulatory assumption which has been used since the turn of the century is, in fact, wrong. In this note we consider where the perceived wisdom came from, why it’s wrong, and what needs to change.

Licensing of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)

There is growing interest in the use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) for a wide range of private and commercial applications. These systems cover a wide variety of types referred to as drones, model aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or unmanned aerial systems (UAS). As operational use increases rapidly, the provision of safe access[…]

Regulation of Aeronautical Radio System Spectrum Access

Without access to radio spectrum it would be impossible to undertake national and international flights safely. Aeronautical radiocommunications systems are used to support communications, navigation and surveillance applications which range from two-way communications between air traffic control and pilots to on board weather and location radars. These applications make use of various frequency bands allocated[…]