A new white paper reveals that new forms of spectrum sharing could enable many more people to benefit from broadband connectivity and digital services.

The ‘Enhancing Connectivity Through Spectrum Sharing’ paper explores how spectrum sharing can help bring more rural communities across Colombia, Malaysia and South Africa online.

“In face-to-face discussions with Policy Impact Partners (PIP), researchers, public sector officials and industry players in South Africa recognised that more efficient use of spectrum could help close the digital divide between urban and rural areas,” the paper highlights.

The report points out that, while there are more than 3.5-billion mobile Internet users worldwide, with Internet use growing at unprecedented rates, it is not evenly distributed and large segments of the population remain unconnected.

“In South Africa, for example, a study by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) found that more than one-fifth of the population live in areas without long-term evolution (LTE) or fourth-generation (4G) coverage,” PIP says.

The persistent digital divide means policymakers need to consider how best to use their limited spectrum resources to enable new technologies, such as fifth-generation (5G), WiFi 6 and the industrial Internet of Things, while closing the digital divide, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and delivering on the promise of a thriving digital economy for all citizens.

“Bold ambitions call for bold actions: there is a need for a new level of openness on the part of all stakeholders to explore new ideas and collaborative efforts to find viable solutions.

“While many governments have put in place new information and communication technology strategies, and taken steps to improve their universal service programmes, much more needs to happen and sooner rather than later.”

The PIP report considers the opportunities for spectrum sharing in a range of different frequency bands, including those identified for international mobile telecommunications (IMT), which are served by a large and competitive LTE device market.

“Today, this IMT spectrum is not being fully exploited: public sector officials and industry players in Colombia, Malaysia and South Africa recognise that more efficient use of this spectrum could help close the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

“In Colombia, some stakeholders believe spectrum sharing could also increase spectrum efficiency in suburban [and] urban areas, as well as rural areas, and boost competition,” the report notes.

The report, based on in-depth engagements with industry and public sector stakeholders on three continents, uncovered widespread interest across Columbia, South Africa and Malaysia.

Authors, PIP, in association with the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, are now working with local players to design technology trials that will generate insights into the potential of new models for spectrum sharing and any related technological and regulatory issues that might arise.

“PIP is engaging with the relevant stakeholders to identify potential geographies, spectrum bands and technological mechanisms for trials that will explore the potential of spectrum sharing to significantly boost the availability and adoption of mobile broadband,” the paper notes.

In South Africa, key industry and policy stakeholders expressed a willingness to participate in, or support, technology trials of spectrum sharing, which could help connect the about two-million people in South Africa who do not yet have coverage from a third-generation or 4G network.

However, some stakeholders believe the existing regulatory provisions for spectrum sharing in South Africa are too vague.

“The trials would provide stakeholders with insights into the potential of tiered models for spectrum sharing and any related technological and regulatory issues that might arise,” PIP adds.

“The best way to trial and ultimately implement spectrum sharing will vary country by country, depending on how the specific frequency band is being used today, the regulatory framework, existing authorisations and potential partnership opportunities.”

PIP notes that the choice of spectrum frequencies for the technology trials will be influenced by how the licensing process for the 2.3 GHz, 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands proceeds over the next 12 months.

In South Africa, parts of the 2.3 GHz, 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands have been assigned to mobile operators.

The government looks set to license several IMT spectrum bands to the wireless open access network and other licensees during the second quarter of 2020. This could involve auctions of frequencies in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands.

If necessary, the 900 MHz and 1 800 MHz bands could be used for a near-term trial in South Africa, the report explains.