Like European leaders, many US analysts have pointed out spectrum availability as a key factor in achieving widespread broadband access. Trade Association 3G Americas has issued a white paper entitled 3GPP Technology Approaches for Maximizing Fragment Spectrum allocations. This paper focuses on the challenges for spectrum stakeholders hoping to encourage wider spectrum usage by operators using various broadband technologies and current spectrum allocations. These challenges are particularly acute in the so-called “fragmented” bands taking up small areas of the overall spectrum. Given the technological constraints of building practical wireless devices, access to only so many wireless bands are built into the device. Consequently, use of available fragmented spectrum is rejected in favor of using more common regional and global bands that offer the benefit of economies of scale. This paper from 3G Americas emphasized the critical importance of spectrum harmonization as well an innovative techniques such as aggregation (permitting the asymmetric pairing of radio channels) that would facilitate the use of existing fragmented spectrum.Find the official announcement and a link for downloading this free white paper at the 3G Americas’ website.
Trade Association Joins Push for Spectrum Harmonization to Achieve Broadband Goals
