Ofcom's White Space Devices Pilot Program Supported By The Wireless Innovation Forum

The pilot will test the inter-operation of white spaces devices, white space databases and the processes to mitigate against causing any undue interference to current spectrum users.

The members of the Forum feel that pilot programs such as these are critical for establishing a vibrant spectrum sharing ecosystem, allowing white space device manufacturers, white space database administrators and network operators to work together to mature technologies that maximize the economic potential of our limited spectrum resources, said Lee Pucker, CEO of the Wireless Innovation Forum.

As reflected in the Forum's Advocacy Agenda the members feel that such pilot programs provide opportunities for wireless system and applications developers to trial and assess the capabilities of their innovative technologies in more complex environments, while reducing barriers to entry and promoting technological innovation, enabling incumbents and entrepreneurs to pursue new business opportunities throughout the wireless value chain.

In supporting Ofcom's pilot efforts, the Forum recommends that specific focus should be placed on:

•the capabilities of cognitive radios and other spectrum sharing technologies,
•ways to reliably identify harmful interference,
•measuring spectrum efficiency,
•determining ways to increase spectrum efficiency and
•investigating new efficient technologies, as well as their potential value to the economy and society

In addition, the Forum also encourages the open testing of spectrum etiquettes in this pilot to facilitate innovation that would improve spectrum efficiency and to assure that performance objectives are being met. Such etiquettes include cooperative sensing techniques that help address the hidden node problem, and techniques that help expand the radio environment map database model to include registering accurate transmitter and receiver characteristics for radio systems operating in a specific location at a specific time.

To create the Advocacy Agenda, the Forum's Regulatory Committee sought participation from the different stakeholders and leveraged the body of work that has been approved by the Forum's members that advocate positions to advance wireless innovation in spectrum utilization and radio technologies. The Advocacy Agenda is composed of five focus areas: Essential and Critical Communications, Innovation and Competition, Spectrum, Security and Interoperability.