open spectrum alliance - south africa
DESCRIPTION
A brief introduction to Open Spectrum issues in South Africa from the perspective of the Shuttleworth Foundation.TRANSCRIPT
Opening Spectrum in South AfricaSteve SongTelecommunications Fellow
Shuttleworth Foundation
email: [email protected]: http://manypossibilities.net
skype: steve_l_songtwitter: stevesong
Current regulation
Lack of clarity about who is actually using spectrum
What kind of a
thing is spectrum?
How should it
be regulated?
...like the sky?
...like the ocean?
In general
we manage
spectrum like
real estate.
Which was fine...Which was fine...
...until the explosive growth ...until the explosive growth ofof
InternetInternet MobileMobile
...until the explosive growth ...until the explosive growth ofof
InternetInternet MobileMobile
So what needs to happen?
Not all spectrum is created equal
Source: The Mobile Provide: Economic Impacts of Alternative Uses of the Digital Dividend
1) Independent spectrum 1) Independent spectrum auditaudit
1) Independent spectrum 1) Independent spectrum auditaudit
“According to the best
available data, at any
one place and any one
time in the U.S. it is
likely that less than
10% of available
spectrum is in use.”
- Sascha Meinrath, New America
Foundation
1) Independent spectrum 1) Independent spectrum auditaudit
“According to the best
available data, at any
one place and any one
time in the U.S. it is
likely that less than 10%
of available spectrum is
in use.”- Sascha Meinrath, New America
Foundation
A recent spectrum
audit of Dublin,
Ireland showed that
only 14% of available
spectrum was in use.
- Irish Communications
Market: Key Data Report
2) Standards for transparency 2) Standards for transparency in spectrum auctionsin spectrum auctions
2) Standards for transparency 2) Standards for transparency in spectrum auctionsin spectrum auctions
Recent spectrum
auction in the United
States of the 700Mhz
band resulted in 20
billion USD revenue
for government.
2) Standards for transparency 2) Standards for transparency in spectrum auctionsin spectrum auctions
Recent spectrum
auction in the United
States of the 700Mhz
band resulted in 20
billion USD revenue
for government.
Without good
governance, natural
resource wealth turns
out to be worse for
poor countries than if
they hadn’t had those
resources at all.
- Paul Collier – The Bottom Billion
3) Start sharing spectrum3) Start sharing spectrum
3) Start sharing spectrum3) Start sharing spectrum
Nov 4, 2008 –
Unlicensed use of
Television White
Spaces spectrum
approved in the
United States
3) Start sharing spectrum3) Start sharing spectrum
Nov 4, 2008 –
Unlicensed use of
Television White
Spaces spectrum
approved in the
United StatesSept 26, 2008 –
802.11y-2008 “lite
licensing” standard
approved by the
IEEE
Technology is often Technology is often a better regulator a better regulator than bureacracythan bureacracy
The Role of Industry
Television White SpacesUse of television guard bandsDigital dividend spectrumSerendipitous re-use
What's missing?
You!
802.11y “lite
licensing”
Opportunities inSouth Africa
TelevisionWhite
Spaces
Digital Dividend Spectrum
Creative C
om
mo
ns
Sky by Robin Jaffrayhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/robinj/2934399671/
Hand Holding a Mobile Phone by WhiteAfricanhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/
We share this... by Miguel Ramirezhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/ibizadj/323305938/
Bureaucracy by BostonBillhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/8533266@N04/1296614397/
Other photos courtesy of http://www.istockphoto.com
King Farouk in the inauguration of the international telecommunications congress 1938 by KodakAgfahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/96884693@N00/1509615338/
At the end of a long day by Gustavoghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/gustavog/16609600/
At the end of a long day by Gustavoghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/gustavog/16609600/
Steve Songemail: [email protected]: http://manypossibilities.net
skype: steve_l_songtwitter: stevesong