Satellite Cognitive Communications and Spectrum Regulation

Symeon Chatzinotas In collaboration with

Shree Krishna Sharma, Bjorn Ottersten

SnT, University of Luxembourg

Workshop on "International Regulations of Space Communications",

Luxembourg, 25 May 2012

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Outline

• Introduction

• Technical Aspects – Satellite Cognitive Scenarios

– Possible Spectrum bands

– Benefits & Challenges

• Regulatory Issues – Need of Spectrum regulation

– International Regulatory Framework

– Current CR regulations and challenges

• Future steps

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Introduction

• Satellite Communications – Main business: DTH, Video Broadcast, Interactive

– Niche: land mobile, aeronautical, maritime, transports, military, rescue and disaster relief

• Terrestrial Communications – Cellular broadband

– Backhauling, P2P links

• Motivation – Increasing demand for broadband wireless access

– Satellite spectrum scarcity

• Opportunity – Cognitive Communications

3/23

Cognitive Communications

• Current status – Static frequency allocation

– Spectrum Segmentation

• Temporal and spatial variations in the spectrum occupancy

• New approach – Dynamic Spectrum Access

– Spectrum Coexistence • Primary/Secondary

• Technical Advancement and/or Spectrum Regulation?

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Scenario 1

• Hybrid/Integrated Satellite Systems

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Coexistence

• Primary - QoS guarantees – Priority on spectrum utilization / leases spectrum / allows coexistence

• Secondary - No QoS guarantees – Opportunistic / on-demand access

• Satellite > Terrestrial or Terrestrial > Satellite

• Technical aspects – Wide coverage

– Sensitive satellite channels

– Primary satellite

• Business => Regulation aspects – Increased terrestrial demand for mobile broadband

– Satellite niche market

– Primary terrestrial for new spectrum (TVWS)

6/23

Co-existence Examples

• C band Sat network and WiMax Ter network

– Services: Cellular, Smart Grid, Public Safety, Wireless Medical

• VSAT band and Terrestrial microwave

– Sat Service: DTH/interactive

– Ter Service: Wireless backhauling

• TV whitespace

– wireless distribution networks for future digital homes and smart metering

– last mile wireless broadband in urban environments

– cognitive femtocells

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Scenario 2

• Cognitive Satellite Systems –Single/Dual operator

–Interactive / Bursty traffic

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Possible Frequency Bands

Frequency Band

Link

Freq Range (GHz)

Primary

Secondary

System Type

S Uplink 2.17-2.20 Sat/Terr Sat/Terr Vehicular, Sensor Networks, Handheld

S Downlink 1.98-2.01 Sat Terr Vehicular, Sensor Networks, Handheld

C Uplink 3.4-3.8 Terr Sat Fixed, Nomadic, vehicular

Ku Uplink 13.75-14.5 Sat1 Sat2 Fixed, Nomadic

Ku Downlink 10.7-12.75 Sat1 Sat2 Fixed, Nomadic

Ka Uplink 27.5-29.5 Terr /Sat Sat Fixed , Nomadic, Maritime, Aeronautical, sensor networks, Interactive TV

Ka Downlink 17.7-19.7 Sat Terr/Sat Fixed

Ka Downlink 17.3-17.7 BSS Feeder link

HDFSS Fixed

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Cognitive Techniques

Interweave • Sensing • Databases • Dynamic Spectrum

Assignment

Underlay • Int. temperature

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Benefits of Satellite CR

• Global perspective: The spectrum usage efficiency is maximized.

• For Industry: The market can be revitalized by the advent of a new CR user and network equipment.

• For Operators: The operators can create new revenue streams from secondary trading as well as improve the utilization of the spectrum resource that they already own.

• For Consumers: Lower cost personalized and optimized mobile and broadband data service.

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Challenges in Cognitive Satcoms

• Business Challenges – No cooperation between satellite and terrestrial operators

• National / International operation

– Manufacturers hesitate incorporating Satellite receivers to Terrestrial terminals • Unsure for business models, slow standardization

– Lack of standards for spectrum trading • First steps towards databases and spectrum stock market in terrestrial

• Technical Challenges – Inter-system, intra-system interference mitigation techniques

• Limited power, Wide area coverage

– QoS management, Mobility and Security aspects

– Spectrum databases to enable trading

– Standardization of promising techniques

12/23

Standards for Terrestrial CR

• IEEE 1900.1: Standard Definitions and Concepts for Spectrum Management and Advanced Radio System Technologies

• IEEE 1900.2: Recommended Practice for Interference and Coexistence Analysis

• IEEE 1900.3: Standard for Assessing the Spectrum Access Behavior of Radio Systems Employing Dynamic Spectrum Access Methods

• IEEE 1900.4: Standard for Architectural building blocks enabling network-device distributed decision making for optimized radio resource usage in heterogeneous wireless access Networks

• IEEE 1900.4a: Standard for Architectural Building Blocks Enabling Network-Device Distributed Decision Making for Optimized Radio Resource Usage in Heterogeneous Wireless Access Networks

• IEEE 1900.4.1: Standard for Interfaces and Protocols Enabling Distributed Decision Making for Optimized Radio Resource Usage in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

• IEEE 1900.5: Standard on Policy Language and Policy Architectures

• IEEE 1900.6: Standard on interfaces and data structures for exchanging spectrum sensing information

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Need of Spectrum Regulation

• Radio frequency spectrum

– is a limited natural resource

– does not respect international geographical boundaries

– is not consumed upon it’s usage unlike other natural resources

– is can be wasted if it is not used optimally and efficiently

• Tragedy of Commons:

– spectrum congestion due to insufficient regulation

• Tragedy of Anticommons:

– inefficient spectrum utilization due to restrictive regulation

• Fragile balance! Flexibility needed!

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International Regulatory Framework

Levels Responsible Bodies Main Tasks

Global ITU Recommendation Reports Radio Regulations

Regional

CEPT

EC

ETSI

Decisions, Reports, Recommendations Directives Harmonized Standards

National

Eg. Institut Luxembourgeois de

Régulation, FCC, OFCOM

Monitor and allocate spectrum in national level

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Spectrum Ownership

• Short/medium term change of usage-rights (and duties) but requiring a total transfer of rights and duties.

• Short term spectrum leasing based on traffic variations, whereby the rights and duties may still remain with the main usage rights holders.

• Spectrum trading, whereby the rights and duties also may still remain with the main usage rights holders.

• Spectrum pooling, occurring as “pure pooling’’ as well as “hybrid pooling’’ (i.e. fixed bands plus shared pool) : A real challenge for regulators to assign ownership

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Regulation Issues for CR

• Change in ownership:

– Temporal short term change of usage right is possible. Time-consuming administrative process

– Regarding spectrum leasing and trading, no implications since original licensee is liable for any interference/misuse.

– No clear assignment of ownership can be done for spectrum pooling.

• Change in Technology

– Most licenses define a mask in which transmission signal must remain

– Any transmission characteristics are permitted as long as the mask criteria are not violated

• Prominent technique

– Spectrum databases and trading • TVWS: US driven, EU only 7 member states

– Major ICT companies have been involved

– Coordination through Cognitive Pilot Channel

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CR in ITU-R

• RESOLUTION 956 (WRC-07):

– Regulatory measures and their relevance to enable the introduction of software-defined radio and cognitive radio systems

• WRC -12 : Agenda Item No. 1.19

– To consider regulatory measures and their relevance, in order to enable the introduction of software-defined radio and cognitive radio system, based on the result of ITU-R studies, in accordance with Resolution 956 (WRC-07)

• Decision (WRC-12):

– SUPPRESSED (No further Study) considering that no „need for modification to Radio Regulations

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WRC-12 decision for CR

• RECOMMENDATION COM6/1 (WRC-12):

– Deployment and use of cognitive radio systems (CRS)

• Recognizing

– that any radio system implementing CRS technology needs to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Radio Regulations,

– that the use of CRS does not exempt administrations from their obligations with regard to the protection of stations of other administrations operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations,

– that CRSs are expected to provide flexibility and improved efficiency to overall spectrum use.

• Recommends

– that administrations participate actively in the ITU-R studies conducted under Resolution ITU-R 58, taking into account recognizing first two points.

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Challenges in Cognitive SatComs

• Regulatory Challenges

– Regulations to facilitate sharing/trading

– Regulations for conflict resolution

• Set EIRP and out-of band interference limits

– Dynamic access to government/military exclusive spectrum

• For secondary access

• Instant release if needed e.g. public safety scenarios

– Collaboration between national and international authorities

• Terrestrial spectrum at national level, satellite at international

– Agreement in ITU-R level

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Example

• Ground interference : depends on elevation angle

• Elevation angle: varies with latitude

• Interference limits should vary across countries

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Future Steps

• Interplay among technology, market, and policy

• Research:

– Analyze performance

– Provide and standardize technical solutions

• Industry:

– Define viable business models

– Manufacture equipment

• Regulators:

– Ensure flexible spectrum ownership is properly regulated

– Define interference temperature threshold levels

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Current Projects

• CO2SAT – Cooperative and Cognitive Architecture for Satellite Networks

– Nationally funded

– Technical Research

• CoRaSat – Cognitive Radio for Satellite Communications

– EC funded (Call 8 under negotiation)

– Consortium: Manufacturers (TAS,NTC) , operators (SES), academia

– Focus on standardization and regulation

• ESA Artes?

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Thank you for your attention!

Questions ?