| DSA Newsletter | Q1 2014 | www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org | events, future plans, news and more |
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| We always look for better ways to keep you updated about our activities, so we are launching this newsletter to help do just that! In each quarterly newsletter, we will highlight our latest work, and focus on areas where we are empowering the next wave of spectrum access. | ||
| In this issue, we provide you with an update about our Global Summit, which takes place in Accra, Ghana on May 13-14. Forward-thinking regulators, leading academics, cutting-edge technologists and pioneering businesspeople will all speak at the Summit about the incredible future offered by new dynamic spectrum access technologies. Experts with first-hand experience will demonstrate how spectrum access can help governments, businesses, and communities deliver affordable access in the busiest cities and in the most remote countryside. Also, delegates will hear about the latest pilots and studies which show how great technology and great regulation are turning spectrum scarcity into spectrum abundance, increasing available bandwidth and reducing costs for consumers. Time will be allotted in each session for the audience to engage in Q&A. We look forward to the healthy debate and discussion.The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance announces technology leaders as new members and calls for global action to open up spectrum. | ||
| We’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome our latest members: | ||
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 As the newly appointed Executive Director, please allow me to further introduce myself. Prior to joining the Alliance, I was Group Director of Spectrum Policy at Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, where I ran the UK 4G auction that raised billions as well as led on all UK Spectrum Policy. I also spearheaded UK dynamic spectrum management, specifically focusing on TV White Spaces for broadband. My new role as Executive Director with the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance is to assist in strengthening its engagements with regulators and government officials to promote the adoption of innovative legal and regulatory frameworks that facilitate dynamic access to radio spectrum. I look forward to working with our members in this endeavour. Thank you for your continued support! Prof. H Nwana, Executive Director |
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| Global Summit, May 13-14, Accra, Ghana | ||
| The second annual Global Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Summit is fast approaching and promises a stellar agenda that will explore the future offered by new dynamic spectrum access technologies. Sessions will cover the latest technical advances, regulatory initiatives and strategies for ushering in the next leap forward in wireless connectivity from connecting the next four billion people to enabling the Internet of Things. We extend a special thanks to our co-host, the National Communications Authority of Ghana, and our event sponsors: Google, MediaTek and Microsoft. |  |
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| Join us on Monday, May 12 at 7:00pm for an evening welcome reception where attendees can pick up their badges and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. | ||
| Confirmed speakers include: | ||
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| As well as representatives from DSA members including Microsoft, Google, InterDigital, Aviacomm, Adaptrum, 6Harmonics, SpectraLink Wireless, MediaTek, WaveTek Nigeria Ltd., MyDigitalBridge, Gigabit Libraries Network, The Tertiary Education Network of South Africa (TENET), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and more. | ||
| To register your attendance, please visit our registration page, or email admin@dynamicspectrumalliance.org. Please visit our dedicated web page for venue and room information, as well as the current agenda. | ||
| Spotlight on.....Africa | ||
 Despite the growth of mobile and fixed broadband access globally, Internet access continues to lag in Africa. In this issue, we’ve placed a spotlight on the region as developments and pilot projects already take place across the continent……University of Ilorin, (also known as Unilorin) Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria The University of Ilorin, also known as Unilorin, is located in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. There are over 40,000 students and faculty staff at the University of Ilorin, with many staying on campus and a larger number residing off-campus. Unilorin, like many Nigerian universities has realized the importance of the Internet and therefore the Vice Chancellor, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali is ensuring that current and future students have high speed Wi-Fi connectivity across the campus. The school has engaged WaveTek to provide campus wide Wi-Fi and TV White Space connectivity across the entire campus and to hostels and dormitories off-campus. Eventually coverage will extend to neighboring villages. To ensure high-speed Internet, WaveTek will distribute STM4 capacity and will strategically deploy TV White Space base stations for areas that may be difficult to reach. Carlson Wireless is the TV White Space equipment supplier. In addition WaveTek and Unilorin have agreed to establish a TV White Space Research Center on the Unilorin campus for students to explore the technology and develop practical applications. This is another first for Nigeria. WaveTek has named a brilliant Unilorin PhD Candidate - Nasir Faruk, who is head of WaveTek’s TV White Space research efforts. Faruk is writing his thesis on TV White Space topics and recently presented a paper in The Gambia. In addition to being the first TV White Space powered deployment in Nigeria, this will be also one of the largest campus wide Wi-Fi installations in all of Africa. |
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Koforidua Polytechnic and All Nations University College, Ghana Ghana’s university students and faculty will soon have 24/7 access to the fast, reliable broadband Internet service they need to succeed. Microsoft has partnered with SpectraLink Wireless, through its DjungleWiFi brand to deploy always-on wireless networks and services across university campuses and in nearby off-campus housing. Using radios from 6Harmonics, the DjungleWiFi network is coupled with both a productivity and communications application bundle from Microsoft, and an innovative device-funding program enabling students to purchase the latest Internet-enabled devices, through SpectraLink, and pay them off over up to 12 months. SpectraLink utilizes specialized TV White Space enabled transmitters to connect to campus buildings, even those spaced far apart, and to connect to students’ off-campus housing. By providing service both on campus and at students’ hostels, DjungleWiFi ensures access to the Internet’s fastest speeds when and where it’s needed. |
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 MyDigitalBridge Foundation, Namibia
MyDigitalBridge Foundation (MDB) is a Namibian not for profit organization whose mission is to aid the “bridging” of the digital divide in order to redress the social and economic imbalance in our society. As such MDB has initiated a trial project to conduct a comprehensive study on leveraging unused TV band spectrum as part of Universal Access and Service (UAS) within Namibia.The overall objective of the trial is to develop a blueprint for the deployment and adoption of TV White Space as the technology of choice for “last mile” rural broadband connectivity. The trial, which will utilize radios from Adaptrum, will showcase the delivery of low-cost, high-speed fixed wireless broadband to rural villages in Namibia. Such connectivity holds the possibility to create new opportunities for education, healthcare, and the delivery of government services within Namibia, as well as possibilities for e-commerce and e-trade. The trial is taking place in three regions, namely Omusati, Oshana, and Ohangwena, with TV White Space infrastructure being installed at 34 study sites consisting of 24 schools and 10 circuit offices. |
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 TV White Space in Nigeria A Committee of Ministry of Communications Technology (MoCT), NCC and NBC was set up to consider the need and modalities for a trial in Nigeria. This Committee also considered the request for a trial by approximately seven companies. The Committee submitted its report to the last meeting of the National Frequency Council, where the need for the trial was endorsed. The trial will be regulated and the operators seeking to take part in the trial will have to obtain an Internet Service Provider License from the NCC. The trial will be supervised by an MoCT, NCC and NBC Committee and will guide the development of regulatory framework for TV White Space adoption and deployments in Nigeria. |
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| Worldwide Trials and Pilots |
| To visually represent the extent of TV White Space trials, pilots, and deployments around the world, the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance has created a map found on our website at http://www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org/pilots.html. |
| Recent regulatory submissions | ||
| As a cross-industry organization, the Alliance works to engage with regulators and government officials to promote the adoption of legal and regulatory frameworks that facilitate dynamic access to radio spectrum. Since the start of the year, the Alliance has filed five submissions. -> In general, the Alliance filings support core DSA priorities, including advancing regulatory approaches to spectrum sharing and advocating spectrum policies that enable increased and improved license-exempt access. In the coming weeks, the Regulatory Affairs Work Group will work to develop a roadmap of priorities and goals for the second half of the year. |
May: | Filing to FCC to support unlicensed access in the 600 MHz band |
| April: | Filing to support FCC notice of proposed rulemaking for 10 GHz band | |
| April: | Filing response to US House of Representatives white paper on modernizing U.S. spectrum policy | |
| March: | Filing to support FCC spectrum sharing proposals | |
| January: | Ofcom consultation on mobile data strategy | |
| In the News | Industry Events |
| Recent news stories issued by the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance include: | IEEE DySPAN Conference At the recent IEEE DySPAN Conference in McLean, Virginia on April 1-4, the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance organized a panel session titled “From my town to your town: efforts to make dynamic spectrum a commercial reality.” Executive Director, H Nwana, chaired the panel with five DSA members serving as panelists: Ken Spann (WaveTek); Mihaela Beluri (InterDigital); Peter Flynn (Texas Instruments); George Nychis (Adaptrum); Andy Clegg (Google). H also presented a keynote on “Dynamic Spectrum Access and Economic Regulation” at the event. Most of the 150 people in attendance were not previously familiar with the DSA so this was an incredibly beneficial event to raise awareness! |
| April 2, 2014: Executive Director Appointed – The Appointment of Prof. H Nwana. | |
| March 17, 2014: FCC Filing – The first Alliance filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of efforts to increase dynamic access to unused radio frequencies in the 600 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 5 GHz bands. | |
| 6 March, 2014: Global Summit announcement – announcing the second annual summit. | |
| EE Times: read the recent blog from H Nwana about why 'Spectrum Should Be Shared' | |
Get in touch |
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| If you would like more information, or if your company or organization is interested in joining the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, then please email | |
| info@dynamicspectrumalliance.org | |
| Alternatively, visit our membership page, which provides a membership level breakdown. | |
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