Author: Digital World

Managing growth, managing spectrum: best practices in spectrum harmonization

Why is spectrum harmonization so important, yet increasingly difficult to achieve – and what new approaches or solutions can improve the situation? These were the questions addressed by panellists drawn from a broad range of services dependent on the use of service-appropriate, interference-free spectrum in this informative and thought-provoking debate, ably moderated by Joanne Wilson, Deputy Director of ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau.

Radio frequency spectrum is a limited natural resource critical for a huge range of terrestrial and space services on the land, at sea and in the skies. The importance of harmonizing use of spectrum across all services is not in doubt – and nor is the increasing difficulty in reaching this shared goal as demand for spectrum grows.

But if harmonization is so critical, why is it so hard to achieve?

Before the session had even started, a look at the impressive breadth and depth of the speakers provided an answer to this question. Representing spectrum stakeholders from the mobile, satellite and broadcasting industries, from earth science, meteorology, maritime and space research services, the panel embodied the multi-stakeholder nature of spectrum use – and the rich variety of competing demands upon a limited resource essential for services to ensure, variously, safety of life, global coverage, technological innovation, and socio-economic development

Spectrum matters

In the words of Ruy Pinto, CTO, SES: “Spectrum is our life blood – we can only provide services to customers if we have spectrum.”

The result of many years of research and collaboration nationally, regionally and globally, harmonization of spectrum allocation and use is key for successful connectivity in the broadest sense. “It sets the scene for investment, industrial planning and the present and future of ecosystems. And it touches the user directly, guaranteeing economies of scale, lower prices and better services,” as well as avoiding interference in border areas between countries and services, emphasized Luis Felippe Zoghbi, Spectrum Policy Manager, GSMA

Sufficient spectrum in appropriate frequency bands is needed to enable innovative services and solutions, according to Osamu Kamimura, Vice President and Head of Spectrum Policy Officer, SoftBank Corporation. It is important to see the wider picture: meeting the UN Sustainability Development Goals, mitigating the effects of climate change and working for sustainable human development across the globe will be helped by technology – technology which relies on spectrum.

Global coverage, safety of life

Spectrum enables public service broadcasters to provide content and reach mass audiences through broadband, satellite and terrestrial services, stated Elena Puigrefagut, Senior Project Manager, Technology & Innovation, European Broadcasting Union, giving the example of television sets or standard FM radios around the world that tune to the same broadcasting bands. “The administration of spectrum has been the key to our success” as an industry, she said.

Victor D Sparrow, Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, NASA, pointed out that space research, earth exploration and radio astronomy are dependent on spectrum allocations enabling global interoperability and economies of scale with multiple partners and shared missions. Leveraging spectrum harmonization is key to enabling space science and earth science to function.

Environmental monitoring, weather prediction and associated services contribute to safety of life and property, mitigating climate change and advancing global development – and are more important than ever as extreme weather events occur increasingly frequently. Accurate forecasting and monitoring from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) rely on spectrum for robust observation, measurement and communication through ground- and space-based systems, according to Kenneth Holmlund, Head of Space Systems and Utilization, WMO.

Spectrum harmonization is also critical for the safe operation of aircraft globally, added Loftur Jonasson, Chief/CNSS, International Civil Aviation Organization, highlighting the importance of reliable radio communication, navigation and automation services on a global scale, aligned with the regulatory frameworks of all administrations.

Growing demand, growing difficulties

Given the dependence on spectrum across such a range of competing services, the need for spectrum harmonization is undisputed. This complex task has been administered globally for many years through the ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau, managing and updating the Radio Regulations international treaty providing binding guidelines on radio frequency spectrum allocation in different services and regions.

But why is spectrum harmonization becoming increasingly challenging?

For Pinto, the answer lies not just in multiple stakeholders competing for a share of a scarce resource – there is also the added complication of multiple regional or national regulations in different countries with different spectrum allocations and licence conditions. “National regulations and ITU guidelines do not always align,” he said.

Providing a regulatory body perspective, Stephen Michael Talbot, Head of International Spectrum Policy at the Office of Communications (Ofcom), pointed out that spectrum licensing is a national competency – yet services such as satellite, aeronautical, maritime and space sciences require an international environment. There may be friction between national sovereignty and international harmonization of authorisation.

New spectrum is needed to support new services such as IMT, stressed Nan Li, Deputy Director of Wireless and Terminal Technology Institute, China Mobile Research Institute, outlining that 4G focuses on low and medium spectrum, but planned 5G services will require higher bands and a 20-fold increase in bandwidth. Without unified spectrum planning and harmonization, this will lead to an increase in the cost of terminals and other equipment to support global roaming. Finding the exact frequency ranges to support expanding mobile services is a major challenge, especially as lower bands are already crowded, agreed Softbank’s Kamimura.

As spectrum demand increases, so too does the difficulty of coordinating national or regional authorisations to avoid fragmentation or interference. And harmonization is key to creating regulatory stability and allowing for investment in innovation, as Puigrefagut summarised: “It is difficult for an industry if there is no certainty in the frequencies and in the regulation to continue to invest in innovation and be proactive.”

Increasing demand has created pressure on spectrum allocation, leading at times to a “disharmonized” or “opportunistic” approach, said Jonasson. Sharing spectrum or allocating adjacent spectrum bands to different services – such as repurposing for 5G roll out – can have major safety implications for safety of life in aviation, he pointed out: “It is becoming increasingly difficult to retain interference-free services in some bands used by aeronautical safety systems.”

Fellow representatives of incumbent services agreed. According to NASA’s Sparrow: “Adjacent or alternative service allocations outside of space science are becoming a threat, encroaching on protected bands.”

This is particularly important in passive bands with specific characteristics that do not have alternatives. As Uwe Baeder, Director, International Relations, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, explained, some services cannot be moved  in the spectrum because they exploit the physical properties of a specific frequency band.

Global shipping also depends on reliable radio communication and navigation to function effectively – and to protect life at sea. Yet here, too, “we are running into trouble with adjacent bandoperations,” warned Alexander Schwarz, Vice-chair-elect, Sub-committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), International Maritime Organization. Some satellite communications on ships may not function as expected in coastal areas where there are IMT base stations; any future harmonization of non-maritime services that may produce interference in the spectral vicinity of maritime should urgently include compatibility studies.

Technology is a key part of the solution…

Technical advancements can provide many solutions to better and more effective spectrum harmonization, the panellists broadly agreed. For Zoghbi, representing the mobile industry, this would allow more flexibility for equipment manufacturers and vendors to serve global markets with the same products, maximising economies of scale and enabling countries and regions to identify the most appropriate frequencies within a range to guarantee “not just the future of mobile services, but any other services which focus on providing connectivity to a better future.”

Puigrefagut outlined the need to “improve technology to mitigate interference and facilitate sharing between services,” which would allow for certainty across industries and investors.

Making a better estimation of spectrum demand for future use, calculating requirements in specific areas and time periods would enable smarter spectrum allocation, according to Li. “Spectrum sharing techniques based on spectrum database and cognitive radio techniques or spectrum interference techniques can solve the issue.” It is important to continue researching new technologies for increased spectral efficiency, and to reduce demand in certain frequencies – including new techniques to operate IMT systems in higher frequencies.

Technology development will allow for better coordination and planning to promote spectrum sharing whilst protecting key services. “We need to look at technology and how it can increase utilization of spectrum operations to traverse across multiple service allocations without being a threat to incumbents,” urged Sparrow.

In remote sensing of the atmosphere. the observed properties are directly linked to specific frequencies of the spectrum that cannot be shifted. There is therefore also a need to protect certain bands or frequencies

Maintaining the balance between innovation and protection is the nut which technology and regulation must crack together. “It is necessary to protect existing services, but also inappropriate to deny the possibility of innovation that comes with technological progress in order to ensure sustainable development,” said Kamimura, calling for further research into new techniques to cover different frequencies, provide better protection from interference and promote spectrum sharing.

…but cannot do it alone

“Technology will not solve all problems, but software-defined radio, better measurement equipment and a better understanding of interference can help,” said Pinto. “But we have an institutional issue on conflicting regulation that we should recognise and try to address.”

He called for “advocating at the supranational level a more encompassing role for ITU to minimize the discrepancies between ITU regulations in spectrum coordination and national regulations” to benefit industry, private companies and international organizations alike.

Ofcom’s Talbot highlighted the practice of “service layering” – continuously seeking to add services into existing allocations. “The ultimate endgame to this is all services in all bands”, he pointed out. But perhaps we could be more dynamic and even remove some allocations in the future to provide greater clarity.

For Jonasson, “As the aeronautical industry grows and its need for bandwidth grows as well, we foresee that the industry will reuse the spectrum already allocated to it as far as possible, but this requires a holistic, compatible, harmonized and global approach not only by aviation, but also by other users.”

New regulatory approaches will also be essential in tackling the challenges of future technologies such as 6G, where services such as joint sensing and communication networks may use the same spectrum, said Baeder. Two services used by the same technology and in the same band are currently treated separately by regulation. Another challenge facing regulatory bodies in the more distant future may come with the advent of autonomous shipping, requiring globally protected spectrum for control and command purposes.

Sparrow urged convergence at the front end between active partners sharing spectrum, especially adjacent spectrum. This would allow for clearer modelling and analysis, based on real needs not assumptions, which could, in turn, be communicated into regulatory frameworks to improve spectrum harmonization.

One goal, multiple perspectives

Baeder reflected on the trade-off necessary between new technologies enabling efficient use of spectrum, including better synchronization between services and better sharing characteristics, and the protection of specific frequencies which are essential for safety of life or cannot move from a specific spectrum band.

The latter include atmospheric and earth sciences, where instruments cannot work in different frequencies, and where out of band emissions can distort or even eliminate reliable observations, stressed Holmlund, calling for increased awareness of the issue. “The only way we can move forward is to have an open and honest discussion on frequencies and not exaggerate, but explain properly the impact,” allowing technical guidelines for equipment manufacturers, for example, to limit out of band emissions.

Balancing safety against broad spectrum use by the public may come down to safety versus immediate economic interest, said Schwarz, sounding a note of caution.

In Zoghbi’s words, “we all have one goal: to make sure we are all connected and services are protected,” but we also have different views on what the future holds in terms of technology and technology timelines, balancing additional spectrum for new services against protection of people.

Many countries implement regulation in different ways or on different timelines, pointed out Pinto, which can be particularly problematic in densely populated areas or regions where different national administrations are geographically close to each other, such as Europe or Central America. “We need a better way of harmonizing national regulations with ITU guidelines as otherwise we will end up with less spectrum, not more,” he said.

Talbot agreed – even keeping within the international regulations on allocations does not work, as geographical neighbours might use spectrum for different purposes, such as mobile services or broadcasting. Two countries both exercising sovereign rights: but “spectrum does not respect borders,” so other measures may be necessary to make it work.

Summing up, Wilson focused on the increasing challenge of spectrum harmonization as growing demand continues to impact on services with safety of life or global spectrum requirements. “We are seeing increasing interference into important services, much of it coming from adjacent bands and active services.” Harmonization is also key from an economic standpoint, enabling economies of scale and a stable environment for investment. New technology can enable better and more efficient use of spectrum, but technology alone is not enough. Service layering or unlayering – even removing some allocations if not effectively utilized – may be an option. Harmonizing national regulations is critical.

Pinto concluded with a plea for a global perspective: “Spectrum licencing is a national competency, so it is difficult or controversial to change. But we as stakeholders should look for mechanisms to help ITU incentivise national regulators to take into account a global view.”

 

Space for change: satellites in the service of digital transformation

Advances in satellite technology, changing business models and growing demand for services are making satellites more relevant than ever. At this Forum session, moderated by ITU’s Alexandre Vallet, Chief, Space Services Department, ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), a lively panel from government, international organizations and across the industry shared perspectives on the role of satellite within the ICT ecosystem, and how best to fully realize its promise.

Stressing the importance of broadband connectivity to connect the 3.8bn unconnected in his opening keynote, Mohammed Alotaibi, Deputy Governor for Radio Spectrum, Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Saudi Arabia, explained how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sees satellite connectivity as a vital tool for bridging the digital divide. Setting the scene for the discussions that followed, he outlined how satellite connectivity has been reflected in the Kingdom’s 2020-2025 National Spectrum Strategy, including a commitment to new applications, ways of integrating satellite within the 5G ecosystem, a new spectrum award and further commitment to strengthen public private partnerships. Highlighting the importance of “multi-stakeholderism” -which also lies at the heart of ITU working methods, processes and events- he called upon the international community to drive collaboration, ensure fair and open access, be attentive to the risk of collisions and pollution carried by de-orbiting satellites and space debris, and strengthen public-private partnerships towards ensuring equitable access and space sustainability. “The satellite sector is well placed to drive truly global digital transformation, but this ‘gift to society’ must be managed in a sustainable manner,” he told delegates.

Satellite-enabled future

Panellists were clear that satellite technologies complementing existing terrestrial infrastructure will be key to providing extended broadband services in the future, and this ability to extend coverage to previously unreached areas is ultimately what constitutes the unique value proposition of satellite technologies.

For Arman Biturganov, Head of Division, Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, traditional geostationary broadcasting and communications satellites will continue to be used for broadcasting and government services, with new non-geostationary satellites and high throughput geostationary ones increasingly providing reliable broadband connectivity. Citing his own experience in Kazakhstan, he explained that for rural areas it is “economically feasible to use satellite technologies, as they have certain advantages over terrestrial networks.”

Although satellites may not necessarily bring new services, according to Yulia Kulikova, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Astrocast, they can “bring existing services to areas where we don’t have connectivity.” Herein lies their unique value. According to Biturganov, satellite will work in complement- in a “pivotal role” -with terrestrial networks, especially to increase traffic.

Luke Ibbetsen, Head of R&D, Vodafone, agreed that the potential of satellite lies not so much in the new services but in its capability to extend existing services “whether they are in reach of where it is profitable to build terrestrial networks or not.” Often looking to build sites in off-grid locations, sometimes with no power or requiring fossil fuels, having the “ability to blend terrestrial and satellite to provide a more sustainable solution that covers everywhere on the planet has a great deal of merits,” he explained.

Providing a geostationary operator’s perspective, Kevin Choi, CTO, KTSAT, explained his goal was to provide sustainable and universal communications infrastructure, applying the “ESG principle” (environment, social and corporate governance). Crucially – in a view echoed by others – terrestrial and satellite networks should co-exist, and satellite providers such as KTSAT fill the gaps where there is no terrestrial infrastructure. This includes services from broadcasting or internet access to disaster monitoring, in complement to existing terrestrial networks.

The “convergence of cost-effectiveness, quality, connectivity and flexibility,” is where the value proposition of new low earth orbit satellites such as Amazon’s Kuiper lies, enabling greater flexibility to deploy terminals, explained Julie Zoller, Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, Project Kuiper, Amazon. Low latency broadband systems have potential to power a number of different cases “for which satellite is uniquely suited,” including real time communications allowing businesses to deploy connectivity exactly where it is needed, and providing backhaul connectivity to expand wireless and mobile networks to new regions.

For David Goldman, Director of Satellite Policy, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), a key factor driving future satellite broadband growth is the drop in launch costs, which have significantly helped bring down barriers to entry for new services, paving the way for new innovation. This drop needs to be balanced with investment by companies in R&D, for example, but once the technology is established and economies of scale are reached, costs can be driven down.

To maximise all this potential, a real, global business case for satellite is essential, according to Sonia Jorge, Executive Director and Director of Digital Inclusion Programs, Alliance for Affordable Internet (Web Foundation). Amidst growing numbers of prospective technology solutions, “a business case for affordable and meaningful connectivity” is needed, she explained.

Coexisting, complementary technologies

For Ibbetsen, the potential of a complementary set of technologies to reach the unconnected is huge. These can “directly connect 4G, 5G smartphones from space into people’s hands,” he told delegates, as well as supporting IoT capability. Using satellite alongside terrestrial will be an “inherently complementary role,” to the extent that Vodafone is looking to be able to “share the spectrum that has traditionally been used by proprietary license holders to support terrestrial networks… to reach the maximum number of people on the planet,” he explained. Partnerships will also be key in “extending the reach beyond networks.”

Satellite can extend a telco footprint, explained Zoller, offering consumers in unserved or underserved areas a choice. Telcos themselves can be distributors of satellite, leveraging satellite solutions to serve the last and middle mile. Zoller also believes that satellites and terrestrial networks can share spectrum. “We’re both implementing capabilities to use spectrum more efficiently, have the ability to adjust resources based on real time demand and the environment, and this makes modern systems more resilient to interference and allows for greater re-use of scarce spectrum resources,” she explained.

Public and private sector roles

Good public-private sector partnerships and collaboration will help ensure satellite technologies are well placed to drive transformation. Jorge shared examples of successful partnerships which have helped boost affordable access, including in Brazil and Peru, where satellite players joined forces with governments and other players to deliver community networks. The more partnership and cohesion between players, the more end users will benefit. Governments need all players in the ecosystem to flourish, experiment and provide innovation, she explained. Different stakeholders need to coexist and the government is critical to maintaining this balance. The right governance needs to be in place to provide equitable services, agreed Choi.

Any affordable satellite solution needs a policy framework that is supportive to help it become a reality, and panellists stressed the importance of the right policy and regulatory environment. This should be one with “simplified bureaucracy,” according to Kulikova, and one that actively encourages new ideas and services.

A multi-stakeholder approach- as highlighted by CITC’s Alotaibi – is also key. Choi explained how many initiatives have failed as they were only initiated by the private sector. Deploying affordable ground terminals is a “technical and political solution” he explained.  Governments need to work with industry to help make the system affordable, he explained, calling for an “international public private partnership,” to help provide affordable services.

Concluding thoughts

As costs for development drop, it is the policies themselves which are becoming barriers to entry to new service, according to Goldman. Policy needs to provide the right incentives: “We need to be thinking about policies that drive the industry to do what the government is trying to do,” he explained.

For Ibbetsen, an open-minded, flexible regulatory climate is essential to enable satellite to drive digital transformation, as companies navigate their way around using parts of spectrum that was initially intended as terrestrial in nature.

Two elements are major drivers for satellite delivering digital transformation, according to Choi: pricing and access. With billions of devices set to be on the ground, standards should be in place to support mass production of these ground terminals, helping drive down prices. Secondly, a framework is needed for equitable access to frequencies. As a public asset, frequency should not be monopolized by a handful of players and a framework is needed to provide equitable access to all, a point also echoed by Biturganov.

Spectrum concerns must be addressed, noted Zoller, including ensuring spectrum access for satellite services, preserving existing primary allocations, avoiding rules that diminish access and allocating new spectrum for fixed satellite service use.

For Jorge, a combination of factors will enable satellite to drive transformation; a strong business case for providing affordable, meaningful connectivity and working together to create sound policy and beneficial partnerships. Progress must be made in a way that is sustainable, being mindful of the impact on the planet, she concluded.

 

The second ITU Digital World 2021 Forum session, ably moderated by ITU’s Diana Tomimura, brought together an insightful panel from across government, industry and international organizations to explore current status and role of 5G in the digital transformation. Discussions spanned the rollout of 5G, current and future use cases, challenges and concerns, the use of 5G in conjunction with other key technologies and how it can bridge the digital divide.

Extending 5G: US and African Telecommunication Union

With the pandemic forcing so many of us to take a digital leap to remain connected, government priorities in the United States include helping populations be equipped for a more tech-enabled future, where individuals can stay connected to vital services such as work, health and more. Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting Chairwoman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), explained how the US is pursuing a “100% broadband” policy, with a three-pronged approach. This includes setting up a broadband data taskforce to measure where services exist, pinpointing on maps where service is and is not available, so that “we can direct resources to the right places,” she explained. Secondly, a focus on the mid-band spectrum for 5G, as “these are the airwaves with the right propagation and capacity.” Finally, the FCC has launched a US$9bn 5G fund, helping extend the reach of the technology into rural areas. “Better data, more focus on mid-band spectrum and more funding are the ticket to making sure 5G new technologies and broadband reach everyone, everywhere”, she summed up.

For African Telecommunication Union Secretary General, John Omo, harnessing the potential of 5G has been a key part of the African Union’s COVID-19 action plan. This has comprised a process of drafting recommendations, review by African Union member states, validation, and adoption. Highlights include the definition of 5G roadmaps, plans to harmonize 5G spectrum, as well as agreement on fiscal measures to reduce taxation of broadband devices. Plans will also tackle the policy and regulatory framework to encourage infrastructure roll out and deployment, including making 5G spectrum available for local and shared licences and addressing the spectrum needs of verticals – a theme echoed by many panellists. He voiced hopes that these recommendations will be accepted by all stakeholders on the continent and that “force of reason will be the reason for their widespread adoption.”

Cross-industry views

Sanjay Kaul, President, Asia Pacific & Japan, Cisco Systems outlined what elements make up the internet of the future- or Internet 2.0 – framework, a 5G architecture framework that allows the cost to be on a level so that everyone can have access to the internet and enjoy it like a commodity. The architecture combines “efficiency in optics, convergence, introducing cloud native architectures and bringing in security into every piece,” he explained.

A key value in 5G will come from its applications, according to Andreas Mueller, Chief Expert Communication Technologies for the IoT, Robert Bosch. For him, 5G is a highly flexible and constantly evolving innovation platform, which has the potential to become a digital backbone for transformation in industry verticals. Many verticals are late entrants to the 5G discussion table, and have had to catch up quickly, to leverage its potential. Nevertheless, the 5G ecosystem is one that is growing from scratch and, going forward, should include “devices and solutions that are optimized for the respective verticals”, taking into account the different pace of their innovation cycles. While there are many real use cases, verticals need to identify business cases that give positive return on investments.

5G challenges and concerns

From security or deployment, to concerns over radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure or even bridging the gap between expectations and reality, the onset of 5G brings with it a host of challenges for its ecosystem to collectively address. To tackle health and safety concerns, ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection) provides a set of guidelines for administrations to adopt and manufacturers to follow, explained ICNIRP Chair, Rodney Croft. These are designed to protect against radio frequency electromagnetic exposure and if adhered to, will ensure that 5G poses no harm.

As 5G is further deployed, connections multiply and the IoT expands, so the cybersecurity challenges increase too. Defences need to constantly evolve and improve. The FCC is taking direct action in areas such as keeping untrusted equipment out of the supply chain and accelerating deployment of OpenRAN (open Radio Access Network) to increase innovation and the diversification of networks in the future. “We need to think about security in all our work,” explained Rosenworcel.

New technology always brings with it inflated expectations. “5G is just the start of the evolution, not the completed product,” Seizo Onoe, Chief Standardization Strategy Officer of NTT Corp and Fellow of NTT DOCOMO, told delegates, and capability needs to be enhanced around the performance of real networks. Deepening understanding and finding new use cases is key, and NTT works with a number of partners, including governments, to help achieve this.

Funding the deployment of the networks, and affordability of user devices and services are major challenges, according to Omo. Relying on a technology such as 5G alone to close gaps is a “tricky issue.” Wide gaps in income levels between urban and rural areas are issues policy makers need to consider, as well as ensuring that networks cover both rural areas and densely populated ones.

Making 5G accessible and affordable to a broader audience, moving beyond smartphones, is a priority for Qualcomm, who is working with customers, countries and telcos to address specific use cases and applications, including within verticals. Although 5G is an “evolution,” it is off to a fast start and will continue very quickly, driving big and small business, explained ST Liew, Vice President, Qualcomm Technologies.

Use cases

In the Republic of Korea, where mobile operators have been rolling out 5G since 2018, the main use case for 5G is video, plus VR and XR services, according to Jemin Chung, Task Force Leader, Institute of Convergence Technology, KT Corporation. Although initial use does not appear so different to 4G, a closer examination shows that 5G subscribers are consuming three times more data than 4G ones, switching WiFi for 5G at homes, he explained. A use case with significant potential- cited by many panellists- is private networks. Here, 5G can deliver enhanced performance to enterprises such as large factories using network slicing, increasing the automation process, and even remote islands, where it can provide healthcare and other applications.

5G also has a wide set of use cases in Japan, from agriculture to manufacturing and factories, and is not only limited in urban areas, explained Onoe. Japan’s approach towards assigning spectrum through beauty contexts – instead of auctions – help boost network investment.   The government has introduced a new index that measures infrastructure deployment rate instead of population coverage, which encourages nationwide coverage.

To leapfrog or not?

Although no one country has “leapfrogged” straight to 5G, there have been cases, such as Jio in India, of going straight to 4G without going via 2G or 3G. Nevertheless, according to Samsung Electronics Head of Sales and Marketing Group, Southeast Asia, Ayeong Im, a variety of approaches tend to be deployed, according to country and operator, including shutting down 2G and then 3G networks and refarming spectrum. A key concern for operators is also around architecture. Operators that have invested heavily in 4G networks and spectrum may introduce non- standalone access (NSA) through its existing network, by connecting 5G radios to the 4G core. On the other hand, operators building a network from the scratch, can opt for standalone access (SA) network that connects 5G radios directly to the 5G core. NSA has the advantage of being easier to connect, but SA can allow for more advanced technology- such as enabling smart factories. Often, operators will use NSA first to get into the architecture, then move into SA, explained Im.

5G in collaboration with other technologies

Interaction or collaboration with other technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Wifi6, FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) or OpenRAN can enhance the potential of 5G.

AI, for example; can improve the performance of 5G. Chung gave the example of how real-time data analytics are optimizing network resources and performance, enabling them to be assigned as necessary to meet user requirements, with AI controlling change automatically in real time. “As AI technology advances, there will be more and more opportunities to leverage them to manage our network intelligently,” he summed up.

Private 5G networks will be key for verticals going forward. They can bring 5G into the existing environment of verticals, but still ensure performance requirements, security constraints and differing needs for flexibility are met, as no one factory environment is the same. A key enabler for this, according to Mueller, will be changes in spectrum regulations, giving enterprises different licenses for spectrum- already underway in Germany, UK and Japan. Using private networks in combination with OpenRAN solutions can also lead to a higher level of flexibility and tailoring. “This is where we are heading to,” he concluded.

Qualcomm has been using FWA built on 5G, to enable operators to take ultra-high speed broadband- comparable to fiber optics- to places where fixed broadband is not available. FWA will also “lay the groundwork for a whole new service offering.” In terms of extending access, Liew sees FWA as “one of many very powerful tools for closing the gap, solving the problems we are facing today.”

“Wi-Fi6 and 5G are complementary technologies” according to Cisco’s Kaul, they enable a seamlessly connected move from one environment to another, through home, work and travel, as well as having key roles to play in areas such as smart manufacturing. Wrapping up, he reminded delegates of the 2 billion people across the world who are unable to afford or benefit from broadband. Technologies such as Wi-Fi6 and 5G, plus AI and virtualization, will come together to create an affordable internet, he said.

Wired, wireless, worldwide: what’s next for networks?

How can networks, the underlying infrastructure behind all connectivity, be developed and expanded to provide high quality, rich content and services at high speeds and with high reliability – whilst also being affordable to the 49% of the world that is still offline?

This was the question at the heart of the opening session of ITU Digital World 2021, which explored a range of technologies and solutions from fibre to satellite, fixed wireless, backhaul, 5G, automation in the network, infrastructure sharing and new regulatory approaches.

Welcoming participants to share their views on “the digital infrastructure and the future developments of networks, and the evolution towards a hyper-connected and super-smart society,” Phan Tam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications for event co-host, Viet Nam, called for cooperation throughout the ICT industry to take advantage of new technologies and reach the underserved more quickly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fundamental importance of ICTs, connectivity and “brought to life the value of the networks that might otherwise have been forgotten,” according to session moderator Vaishali Rastogi, Global Head, Technology, Media and Telecommunications at Boston Consulting Group. “If this pandemic had happened in 2000, only 0.2% of the workforce would have been able to work remotely. Less than 1% would have had real broadband connectivity. Networks have been the critical glue enabling us to work from home and drive education.”

Meeting the affordability challenge

With half of all households not having access to high speed connectivity, what technologies and solutions are needed to drive more digital inclusion – and more affordable connectivity?

From the perspective of Africa, where 30% of the continent is unconnected, Jocelyn Karakula, CTIO, Orange Middle East and Africa, highlighted two key factors: corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement, and energy efficient technologies, including better batteries, adapting solar panels, and the use of AI algorithms to predict energy demands and better manage power systems. Technologies such as Open RAN (radio access network) offering remote deployment can be very promising in remote and rural regions provided the challenges of cost effectiveness and energy efficiency are met.

Improving backhaul capabilities to meet the need for capacity is key, combining low band microwave backhaul and the use of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Full integrators who understand the landscape – both in the industry and geographically – will have a critical role to play in bringing in different technologies to increase capacity in difficult terrains and enable sustainable digital inclusion.

“AI will be key: we cannot manage on a legacy mode such complex and enhanced modern networks,” he said, pointing out that in Africa, the challenge will be continuing to live with four generations of mobile tech – with individual spectrum requirements and investment costs – in parallel.  4G and 5G will develop slowly as long as smart phones remain unaffordable for low income populations, he added: “Technology will enable lower prices in production and manufacturing in order to promote and develop this penetration rate, and have very significant impact on connectivity.”

Wireless, fibre and satellite alternatives

For Mikael Rylander, Technology Leadership Officer at Nokia, fibre to the home (FTTH) is the broadband technology of choice where high speed and massive coverage are required. It is future-proof, delivering speeds of 10 and 25 gigabits per second and now moving towards 50 or even 100. It has low opex, very low power consumption and can be used for residential and enterprise customers, but also for 5G small cell sites, functioning as a stepping stone for other technologies. Operators can also continue to “squeeze copper” with new technology, but the majority of telocs have FTTH at the heart of their strategies and it is the mainstream technology for broadband in developing markets.

Will the next generation of fibre networks bring new business models enabling fibre to move beyond urban or developed areas?  According to Rylander, even in traditional markets, “New business ideas are emerging around the sharing economy, which could potentially lower the barrier for investment, as investment could be shared and applied for pieces of the network.”

Neha Satak, Chief Executive Officer at Astrome, stated that “Wireless is the way to go to close the gap faster…in developed and developing countries, the majority of areas which are unconnected are still within 15 kilometres of a place where fibre is available.” Using both millimetre wave wireless backhaul and unlicenced backhaul can balance out throughput and distance.  WiFi mesh solutions offer robust and affordable networks through the combination of low and high frequency wireless technologies.

Satellites have long been a cost-effective way to reach places and people terrestrial networks cannot, but the current dramatic evolution in technology in both space and ground segments is increasing use cases. Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary General, EMEA Satellite Operators Association, highlighted the role of satellites in providing backhaul, community WiFi solutions and 5G backhaul, with terrestrial operators investing more and more in satellites in response to the need for seamless connectivity experiences across many 5G verticals.

“Evolution in technology and work on standards will make it much easier to integrate satellite into the network of networks. The legacy divisions between mobile, fixed and satellite are dissolving. The optimum solution for future connectivity lies in a combination of technologies pooling different strengths to collectively deliver higher resilience and greater availability for many more users”, she said.

Satak agreed that the satellite industry is poised to become a part of the technologies portfolio, with telcos venturing into space directly or indirectly in developed and developing countries alike. The current price of broadband plans does not make it an affordable option in many emerging markets, with innovation in LEOs key to bringing down costs.

Fixed wireless access can be a valuable addition to driving digital inclusion, added Rylander. It is principally deployed to cope with capacity demand where there is no fibre in urban areas, but is increasingly being tested with millimetre waves in rural areas as technology progresses.

Automation in the network

For Miro Salem, Global Head of AI and Autonomous Networks, Rakuten Mobile, Inc., if we want to solve the challenge (and opportunity) of digital inclusion through automation in the networks, we can – “but ultimately we live in world driven by economics. Autonomous networks create the economics for us to be able to solve these problems in areas where we could not have done this before. So the fundamental shift to happen is the economics by which networks operate.” By changing the design principles upon which we build autonomous networks, we can significantly reduce the cost of wireless network access and share the privilege of connectivity more fairly: “If you change the economics, you get automation, autonomous networks and solutions – and you get everybody the access we all have.”

Specialized hardware in the network is a thing of the past as commodity servers take over even the most traditional legacy functions, agreed Konstantinos Masselos, President, Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission. Network function virtualization is removing the high cost and complex infrastructure installation which have traditionally been the main barriers to newcomers in the industry. The accelerating softwarization trend will bring competition – and put pressure on telcos resisting lean operational models, unable or unwilling to adapt.

“Our next generation networks require dense and heavy fibre deployment, but this can be offset by careful resource sharing and planning together with lowering the cost of core network operations as they become a software defined commodity. It is not easy for the industry to move from one paradigm to another, but telecom operators will adapt to the new software-oriented model,” over time he added.

Choosing your tools: a portfolio of complementary technologies

No one single solution or approach, the panel agreed, will solve the challenge of increasing access. In the words of Salem, “It is about using the right tool or combination of tools in the right place to solve a problem. All tools have advantages and disadvantages – what is important is deciding which tool to use where within this portfolio.” Increasing convergence between technologies increases capacity, but adds complexity, he pointed out.

There will always be a trade-off between cost of maintenance, speed, scalability, latency, time to install, customer equipment costs and ensuring the solution is future-proof. No single technical solution is good enough to apply in any given case or country. “High quality and affordable connectivity needs hybrid technology solutions,” said Masselos, taking in account special features of each area such as geography, seasonality and population distribution, and using the right mixture of technology to optimize deployment and maintenance costs – and therefore affordability.

Key technologies include FTTH for high speed, reliability, and low energy consumption solutions in densely populated areas; fixed wireless access for 5G and easier deployment to suburban and rural areas; and LEO and other satellites with low latency as a good option for rural areas – and increasingly beyond. Fibre is essential for all of these technologies – and for 5G mobile networks, too.

5G business cases

But where are the 5G business cases? For Rylander, markets in Western Europe, Asia and the USA are making progress driven by new partnerships with enterprise firms to rescale organizations and establish how to infuse 5G into the B2B environment. The new operating system and architecture will enable provisioning and performance innovation at scale not seen before. Current use cases include mobility, manufacturing and remote maintenance (particularly valuable during the height of the pandemic where travel was severely curtailed), with real, tangible revenue opportunities emerging in arenas such as university campuses, smart factories, robotics, air- and seaports.

Reconsidering regulatory approaches

Masselos pointed out that we have not yet seen the full potential of 5G, which will continue to evolve towards 5.5G with even higher speeds, lower latencies and increased reliability. The integration of AI and 5G will take use from the internet of everything to the intelligent internet of everything – and our priorities should include ensuring high quality human capacity, IP and a supportive regulatory environment to develop business models and innovation as 6G research begins.

In Africa, Orange’s Karakula reminded the panel, “We are facing a capex wall with massive investment in 4G which must be compatible with 5G and with the cost of 5G licences to manage in parallel with no revenue. Network sharing will be a must.” He called for regulators to champion network and spectrum sharing rather than seeing it as decrease in competition or potential loss of revenue. Multiple technologies must be allowed to co-exist within long term spectrum provisions; regulators should also allow for open access to international cables to allow for high capacity broadband provision, in particular in landlocked countries.

Autonomous networks can dramatically reduce the requirements for skill sets locally and help close the digital divide. Automation already brings additional capacity to existing networks, but for Salem, “the transformation we will see in the world will come from autonomous networks. We have bridged the gap between data, AI and autonomous networks, and there is incredible potential for what networks can be capable of once we implement evolutional algorithms.” The big transformation happening in software is the future of all networks.

Summing up the session, ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao welcomed the focus on the complementary combination of technologies and resource sharing, and in particular on the affordability of connectivity. He stressed the need for better use of existing capacity, including network sharing, satellites and submarine cables, as well as making full use of legacy investments in earlier generation fixed and mobile networks. Asking “How can we use current existing capacities to to offer services whilst still encouraging investment to extend this infrastructure and connect those not yet connected?” he called for IoT solutions and applications from SMEs in particular to drive network usage and provide revenue, as well as a balance of resource sharing and competition amongst operators.  The pandemic has highlighted the need for more broadband capacity in developed countries as well as developing markets; the challenge remains an economic one. Investment in new technology and improved infrastructure is paramount to the growth of the connected world.