The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance is working within the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to spread its advocacy for new spectrum policies that favor opportunistic spectrum access and concepts such as spectrum sharing.
The alliance joined the ITU's Development Sector (ITU-D), which targets development and improvement of telecommunication networks in developing countries. "The Alliance's ITU-D membership is vital as we work towards closing the digital divide, enabling the Internet of Things and alleviating the spectrum crunch," said H Nwana, executive director of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance.
"Working within the ITU, we hope to make leaps in setting dynamic and opportunistic spectrum access regulations across the globe, encouraging opportunistic spectrum access pilot project initiatives, and ultimately facilitating new competition, business models and innovations, not only to connect over 3 billion people in emerging economies, but also the burgeoning the Internet of Things in developed markets," he added.
Charter members of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance include Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), InterDigital and MediaTek.
The ITU is the United Nation's lead agency for information and communication technologies and plays a key role in establishing worldwide standards for communications systems, including new-generation wireless, converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies. The ITU's international mobile telecommunications (IMT) initiatives drove 3G and 4G development, and it intends to drive international requirements for 5G.
"Detailed investigation of the key elements of 5G is already underway, once again galvanizing the highly successful partnership that ITU has forged with the mobile industry and a wide array of stakeholders in the mobile community," said Hamadoun Toure, ITU secretary-general, in an address delivered via video link to the recent 5G Huddle conference in London. His remarks were reported by Mobile World Live.
Critics, however, contend the ITU's approach to setting technology requirements is likely too restrictive, as it has not traditionally included the apps and content developers that are now so crucial to the entire wireless ecosystem.
In early 2012, the ITU's Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) laid the foundation for developing "IMT for 2020 and beyond." According to the ITU website, ITU-R intends to finalize its vision of the 5G mobile broadband-connected society next year.
"This view of the horizon for the future of mobile technology will be instrumental in setting the agenda for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015, where deliberations on additional spectrum will take place in support of the future growth of IMT," ITU said.
For more:
- see this Dynamic Spectrum Alliance release
- see this Mobile World Live article
- see this ITU webpage
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