Page 110 - ITU Kaleidoscope 2016

2016 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

to broaden the role of spectrum sharing in future processes access and utilisation of the radio spectrum. The spectrum’s
of spectrum allocation and assignment. In section 6 transformation from a carrier of analog signals to a carrier of
conclusions are drawn. digital information has allowed many sectors to take
advantage of its pervasive use. The utilisation of spectrum
frequencies continues to fuel a high rate of technological
2. ICT AS A GPT
progress both for manufacturers of wireless devices and
equipment as well as for developers of software solutions
It is not an overstatement that ICT has been a key for wireless applications. In their study Rincon et al [18]
contributor to economic growth. Over the second half of the found that spillover effects, although negative in the short-
th
20 century wireless communications have fueled the term, turn to positive after about five years of initial
development of ICT with an unprecedented growth in both investments. They also find that spillovers across industries
reach and scope. Ever since ALOHA started to transmit are positive and significant.
packets of data back in the late 1960s the smart
manipulation of data signals that use the spectrum to Seen through the lens of the GPT concept, the effects of
propagate and carry information has been a continuous ICT have not only been beneficial to the technology and
source of innovation in wireless communications. Looking telecommunications sectors per se but to the wider economy
forward the smart and efficient use of the radio spectrum across and society. Deployment and innovation in ICT has
will keep adding to innovation in ICT. become intimately linked to the smart utilisation of the radio
spectrum. However, since spectrum is a public resource
One theoretical element that helps comprehend ICT’s traditionally overseen by government, spectrum
impact on economic growth is the concept of General management has been rather slow and struggles to keep up
Purpose Technology (GPT). GPT has been defined as “a with innovations.
single generic technology, recognizable as such over its
whole lifetime, that initially has much scope for
improvement and eventually comes to be widely used, to 3. SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT
have many uses, and to have many spillover effects” [12]. A
GPT is usually a crude technology that evolves to Since the times when radio spectrum was first used to guide
encompass a broad range of uses, usually applied in the ships on their Northern Atlantic routes and later
production of a wide range of outputs [12]. In a sense a commercially by early radio stations, the need for organising
GPT is an opportunity enabler that opens the door to other it in channels without signal interference was quickly
technologies and uses, its efficiency improving as it diffuses acknowledged [8]. Minimising interference and assigning
through an economy. GPTs may transform the economic, bands to a handful of uses were therefore the focus of early
social and political structures that embrace them; such GPTs spectrum management. Fast forward to the second decade
st
are known as “transforming GPTs”. As an illustration, of the 21 century and the scope, complexity and diversity
although not widely accepted, Lipsey et al. [12] list 24 of tasks associated with spectrum management are daunting.
transforming GPTs throughout modern human history Its modern conception as stated by Cave et al is ‘to
including domestication of animals, wheel, iron, printing, maximise the value that society gains from the radio
internal combustion engine, electricity, mass production, spectrum by allowing as many efficient users as possible
computer, Internet and biotechnology. while ensuring that the interference between different users
GPTs are innovations that are slow to develop and diffuse remains manageable’ [7]. In other words in addition to
yet gradually impact most activities in the economy. GPTs interference manageability, Spectrum Authorities (SA) seek
are defined within historical time, i.e., they start at a point in to allow more users to use spectrum and more value to be
time, they expand to eventually mature and give way to derived from it [3], [4].
other technological changes [12]. ICT is generally Currently the most noticeable trend in spectrum
recognized as a GPT. This means that ICT is seen as sharing management is a shift away from command-and-control to a
GPTs’ unique characteristics, characteristics that market-based approach where users and applicants to
differentiate them from conventional economic goods and licenses act within an incentive-based institutional
services. It is their historical dimension that makes GPTs framework expected to lead to efficient spectrum use. When
contribute to business cycles. For instance, in its first phase, foreseeing the potential commercial use of a band, typically
ICT diverts resources from other economic activities with a SAs have relied, first, on deciding the type of use the band
corresponding slowdown of the economy. Some argue that will be given to, and then, providing a license to one or
this is partially what happened with ICT and the productivity more operators for its exploitation. The former is known as
slowdown from the early seventies to the nineties [1]. spectrum allocation and the latter is known as spectrum
Characterising ICT as a GPT, Rincon et al [18] state that assignment [7].
ICT exhibits considerable technological progress and its use Every SA seeks to keep excessive interference from
is pervasive in a wide range of economic sectors; it is also occurring and in so doing they keep tight control on
considered a booster for complementary innovations and a allocating spectrum to uses in such a way that similar
generator of important spillover effects. In the wireless services tend to cluster in similar bands. The SA is also
communication sector those characteristics are propelled by charged with assigning the spectrum to diverse users. When

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