Why Unlicensed Spectrum Allocation is Critical to the Next Wave of Innovation

Over the years, consumers have been quick to adopt the technologies made possible by wireless spectrum, the invisible airwave frequencies that deliver everything from radio and TV broadcasts to Wi-Fi Internet connections.
Yet, as more people become armed with more wireless devices, the congestion across these frequencies increases and the performance of the signals begins to erode.

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FCC Decision Paves the Way for Broadband Innovation

Ever try to upload a photo to a social media site from a crowded event? Chances are that it took several tries for your upload to push its way through the data-crunched network. Or, perhaps you find yourself competing with your kids for Internet connectivity at home. One child is streaming Netflix, the other is trying to conduct Internet research with a tablet, and you are simply trying to catch up on the news and waiting for those headlines to load.
While those scenarios are frustrating, the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) — an onslaught of new Internet-connected devices such as home appliances and fitness monitors — is expected to clog the airwaves even more. With industry watchers heralding some 50 billion connected devices by 2020, the need for additional licensed and unlicensed spectrum for consumer use is clear.
Benefits of Licensed and Unlicensed Spectrum
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) makes decisions about how to allocate the two flavors of wireless spectrum — licensed and unlicensed.
Licensed spectrum, used for services like TV broadcasting, commercial radio and cellular voice and data, is auctioned off by the FCC. The auctions give companies and organizations exclusive use of a particular frequency band of spectrum over a set period of time. By allotting certain frequencies for voice and data transmission, cellular carriers have been able to guarantee a quality of service and expand their customer base, as well as their product offerings.
Unlicensed spectrum, on the other hand, consists of frequency bands that anyone is free to use to operate wireless devices. They are essentially open sandboxes where users can operate without the high barriers to entry that accompany licensed spectrum.

This is a platform for innovation, a greenfield space for technology startups, entrepreneurs and established companies alike.  Unlicensed spectrum levels the playing field.

That alone has tremendous value. Unlicensed spectrum generates $62 billion a year for the U.S. economy, according to a new report from the Consumer Electronics Association, an Arlington, Va.-based trade group.
Gary Shapiro, President of the CEA, has referred to unlicensed spectrum as “the oxygen for innovation,” and says its usefulness can’t be predicted.
“We didn’t know we needed garage door openers, cordless phones, or TV remote controls until someone came along and invented them,” Shapiro said.

Click to expand: Learn more about how unlicensed spectrum promotes wireless innovation.

And that is why companies such as Broadcom continue to advocate for additional unlicensed spectrum for next-generation Wi-Fi.
For most of the new gadgets on the horizon, Wi-Fi will be the preferred technology for Internet connectivity. On the speed front, Wi-Fi has made huge gains since its 1997 debut, growing 350 times faster and pushing gigabit speeds under the right conditions. Those advancements have been enabled through the continued allocation of unlicensed spectrum by the FCC.
Opening up more unlicensed spectrum is critical to making Internet access ubiquitous, as more and more consumers connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi. Otherwise, these consumers will find that their quality of service, range of operations, and overall user experience will become severely diminished.
And it is not just consumers that benefit.  Policy makers must recognize the economic gains and high-paying jobs that will be created through mainstream adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), which is projected to generate a whopping 14 trillion dollars in economic activity. The IoT cannot take off unless there is sufficient spectrum at all frequency ranges to support all of the required connections.
Over the past few years, it appears clear that the FCC understands the importance of innovation and the evolution of technologies such as Wi-Fi.  Recent decisions include making more unlicensed spectrum available in the 5 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and 600 MHz bands.
Because of the large bandwidths available in 5 GHz, it is the workhorse for Wi-Fi, allowing gigabit throughput for bandwidth-hungry tasks, such streaming video and data offload. The Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac provides for downloads using 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channels.  The larger the channel the faster the download speeds.  Even though a considerable portion of the 5 GHz spectrum is available, more is needed to ensure there are a sufficient number of 80 and 160 MHz channels.


Beyond 802.11ac, the growth of small cell technologies will be enabled through the FCC’s allocation of 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band.  Small cells enable Internet connectivity for applications using both cellular and Wi-Fi networks in crowded areas, and other spots that cannot be easily served through massive telecom base stations.
Moving past small cells and connecting the masses, the 600 MHz band is seen as prime real estate for long-range applications using 802.11af, since such signals can travel farther and even penetrate deeper into office buildings and into your basement.
IoT changes the dynamics of connectivity so that you no longer only require center-of-the-room access.  New applications being developed on Broadcom technology require connectivity in your backyard, so that when your calendar shows a BBQ on Saturday, your swimming pool heats up.  Or when you leave your home the temperature setting on the thermostat increases and the lights turn off. Or, your doorbell rings and a video of the person at your front door is sent to your smartphone. That’s the promise of unlicensed spectrum.


Consumer Experience Matters
If mainstream consumers are expected to adopt a connected lifestyle, ease-of-use is critical.
Consumers don’t really care which frequencies their devices tap into as long as the experience is seamless. Broadcom is innovating in this area. We have developed software that acts as a referee to ensure that devices are operating on the most appropriate frequencies.
Our technology will ensure that the bandwidth-hungry video streaming in the living room is prioritized through 5 GHz, and the tablet computer operating in the basement or backyard uses 600 MHz.  Basically, devices will operate in the bands necessary to maximize the consumer experience without requiring an engineering degree.