We discuss the following topics in this blog:
- Significance of spectrum in telecommunications.
- Understanding the need for the radio frequency spectrum.
- STL’s industry patented STL’s offloading and spectrum management solution (dWiFi)
In addition to these topics, we shall also be answering the following FAQs:
- What is WiFi?
- What is WiFi 6?
Contents
How Spectrum is Key to the Wave of Digitization?
In an increasingly digital environment, spectrum is a key element for expanding deployment and coverage of telecommunication networks and meets the ever-increasing demand for data-based services. With the spectrum, Telcos are well-positioned to support and offer online applications and transform many lives to provide access to health, agriculture, government, and much more. However, there remains the challenge of the spectrum being a scarce resource and allocation, and of it being highly regulated and expensive. Going forward, artificial intelligence (AI) will be used in spectrum management.
Most nations have a regulatory body to oversee spectrum allocation to ensure that this scarce resource gets allotted accordingly. Spectrum refers to the collection of radio frequencies made available for transmission, and this group includes TV signals, radio, GPS, and mobile phone signals. These signals typically travel from their source to a receiver through radiofrequency. The rising spectrum need has increased with more operators joining the telecom movement. Earlier, it was purely state-owned incumbent operators who used to provide services; with privatization, more private operators and the need for spectrum allocation is a task in itself.
Measuring the spectrum
Measuring the spectrum is essential to understanding and allows us to efficiently use this scarce commodity. Their scream and demands for the wireless spectrum are huge considering the emergence of new and diverse technologies across various industries.
Given the higher demand and meager supply of specific spectrum demands, it is imperative to understand the need for the radio frequency spectrum. The spectrum available is finite and must be auctioned to ensure that each participating service provider gets to bid to buy the spectrum. Each spectrum is allocated based on the service offered; for example, mobile phones operate in a spectrum of 700 MHz-2.6 GHz.
Elements to ensure effective spectrum management comprises:
- The spectrum defined
- How spectrum is being used
- Regulating the use of the spectrum.
- Who gets to regulate the spectrum and keep in mind national spectrum requirements?
- Telecom regulatory body – to oversee spectrum auction bids, allocation, and other administration functions
With newer technologies come multiple applications that require a range of spectrum frequency bands. In the current context, technologies like 5G, High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), Non-Geo Stationary (NGSO) satellite systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and Wi-Fi are the key drivers and present the need for spectrum. The Illustrated table below helps to understand how these technologies are driving the spectrum:
| Technology Drivers | Spectrum needs |
| 5G deployment – fast speed, low latency, more capacity to handle more users due to high bandwidth. | 5G networks operate in frequency bands below 6 GHz bands, and have relatively better propagation characteristics, and offer the benefit of a wider coverage area. |
| HAPS is a technology that can expand access to wireless connectivity. It consists of radio stations located between 20 and 50 km above the earth. Its applications support other terrestrial technologies and help expand connectivity and provide telecom services in rural and remote areas. | HAPS applications use frequency bands in 31-31.3 GHz, 38-39.5 GHz, 47.2-47.5 GHz, and 47.9-48.2 GHz. NGSO |
| NGSO satellite systems provide connectivity in the underserved areas, which are not accessible by terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure. | NGSO uses frequency bands: 37.5-39.5 GHz and 39.5-42.5 GHz for the space-to-Earth 47.2-50.2 GHz & 50.4-51.4 GHz for Earth-to-space. |
| Wi-Fi operates in an unlicensed spectrum and can transmit within a wide range of frequencies. Wi-Fi provides connectivity by transmitting information to and from mobile terminals, sensors, and other connected devices. | Wi-Fi earlier used 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz bands, with newer versions, it operates in the parts of 60 GHz (57-66 GHz) and 6 GHz (5 925-7 125 MHz) bands. |
| The use of IoT devices is increasing, and many IoT-connected devices are used for consumer applications, and public applications in smart cities around the world. | IoT devices operate in various frequency ranges, both in licensed and unlicensed spectrum bands, and their spectrum requirements depend on the use case-specific to their application. |
STL Offloading and Spectrum Management Solution
STL’s industry patented STL’s offloading and spectrum management solution (dWiFi) offers a complete end-to-end Wi-Fi platform developed to handle the broad spectrum of market challenges. STL carrier-grade dWiFi offers Telcos to be part of their integral heterogeneous network by improving spectral efficiency, and improving their monetization. The dWiFi is power backed with DevOps, analytics, web-scale, network software (DAWN). The STL WiFi6 platform enables telcos to offer services across industries, improving revenues.
What are some of STLs Path-Breaking Spectrum Management Solution Features?
- Smart & intelligent network services
- Enhanced digital experience for customers
- Innovation for new revenue channels
- Reduced time to market
- Seamless access & authentication
- Low cost to serve
- Network agnostic & network neutral functions
To understand in detail STL spectrum management solution and how it can save costs and increase spectral efficiency, read the brochure or watch the quick demo video.
End Note
Wireless spectrum is highly scarce and regulated, yet the demand increases with the rapid emergence of new and diverse technologies across various industries. Regulators need to consider how impactful the new technologies will shape while considering spectrum allocation. Besides, the regulator needs to have the necessary framework and ensure spectrum availability before the allocation is made. Promising technologies like 5G will ensure that the spectrum used will be effective as well. On the other end, organizations like STL’s dWiFi and similar solutions need the hour to play an important role in effectively handling the spectrum.
FAQs
What is WiFi?
Put simply, WiFi is a technology that uses radio waves to create a wireless network through which devices like mobile phones, computers, printers, etc., connect to the internet. A wireless router is needed to establish a WiFi hotspot that people in its vicinity may use to access internet services. You’re sure to have encountered such a WiFi hotspot in houses, offices, restaurants, etc.
To get a little more technical, WiFi works by enabling a Wireless Local Area Network or WLAN that allows devices connected to it to exchange signals with the internet via a router. The frequencies of these signals are either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidths. These frequencies are much higher than those transmitted to or by radios, mobile phones, and televisions since WiFi signals need to carry significantly higher amounts of data. The networking standards are variants of 802.11, of which there are several (802.11a, 802.11b, 801.11g, etc.).
What is WiFi 6?
WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity and is also a common name for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). WiFi 6 is the newest and fastest version of the WiFi 802.11 wireless local area network specification standard. IEEE 802.11ax or commonly marketed as WiFi 6 by the industry body WiFi-Alliance is a significant advancement over its previous generation. It offers multiple devices to run concurrently on one network without compromising the data speeds and response times.
The IEEE approved the 802.11ax standard on February 9, 2021, which is designed to operate between 1 and 7.125 GHz, including the widely used 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. To better understand, WiFi or Wireless Fidelity devices usually translate radio waves into binary code using a technique called QAM, ie. Quadrature Amplitude Modulation. The older generations of WiFi are capable of 256 QAM, i.e., it could send 8 bits of binary data in a single transmission.
In contrast, WiFi 6 is capable of 1024 QAM, i.e., 10 bits of binary data in a single transmission. This significant increase helps WiFi 6 devices to provide 30% faster speeds than its predecessors. The previous WiFi standards like 802.11/a/g/n/ac used OFDM, which meant all of the subcarriers or tones were allocated to a single device at any instance of time.
WiFi 5 introduced Multi-user MIMO, enabling multiple users on the wireless medium simultaneously, thereby adding multiple users across different streams with each device using all of the subcarriers. With WiFi 6, OFDMA can now portion up the individual sub-carriers or tones, which can be allocated to several devices. The benefits aren’t limited to greater bandwidths, higher data speeds, and lower latencies. WiFi 6 also offers better spectrum utilization using orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), Multi-user MIMO support, better power consumption, and enhanced security protocols.
