Radio Spectrum Facts

Medium for wireless communications

Segments of frequencies for carrying information

Communicating devices tune to the same

frequency segment

Signals occupying the same frequency

simultaneously create mutual interference

freq

ASTRI Proprietary

Spectrum is the blood of the mobile and wireless

industry. But unfortunately spectrum is a limited
and scarce resource that requires careful global,
regional and national planning and regulation.
- Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance

ASTRI Proprietary

NGMN is a mobile telecommunications association of mobile

operators, vendors, manufacturers and research institutes.

Conventional Spectrum
Regulatory Policies

TV Broadcasting
licensed band

Cellular Communications
licensed band

Wi-Fi
unlicensed band

ASTRI Proprietary

Ex: Spectrum Allocation in HK

TV Broadcasting

> 300 MHz spectrum is allocated

Min. ~ 70MHz is required to provide service at a given area

Wi-Fi

> 450MHz can be used for 5GHz Wi-Fi

Up to 160MHz is used at a given place and time

Cellular Communications

~ 600 MHz spectrum is allocated and fully utilized

ASTRI Proprietary

Towards more efficient spectrum utilization

TV Broadcasting
licensed band

Cellular Communications
licensed band

Wi-Fi
unlicensed band

ASTRI Proprietary

Next Generation Radio Access

Network Based on Dynamic
Spectrum Access: TVWS and LAA
Eddy CHIU
Manager, Communications Technologies Division
March 2016

ASTRI Proprietary

Moving Towards 5G: The Need for More Spectrum

More spectrum to
support higher
throughput

More spectrum to
support many
devices / connections

ASTRI Proprietary

Moving Towards 5G: The Need for More Spectrum

More spectrum to
support higher
throughput

User data rate =

log 2 1 +

=1

, User data rate

More spectrum to
support many
devices / connections
: Spectrum allocated to User

: Number of channels used by User

: Signaltonoise ratio of User on the th channel

ASTRI Proprietary

4G Networks vs. 5G Networks: Dynamic Spectrum Access

Macrocell
base station
Small cell
base station
Terminal

4G Networks
Make use of licensed
spectrum only

Optimized for particular

deployment scenario

Licensed Non-cellular Spectrum Sharing

Vision for 5G Networks

Licensed non-cellular
spectrum sharing based
on geographical area

Free Unlicensed
Spectrum Sharing
ASTRI Proprietary

Free unlicensed
spectrum sharing based
on run-time sensing
9

Wi-Fi devices

Licensed Shared Access (LSA)

Goal
Allow spectrum that has been licensed to be used by more
than one entity
Challenge
Does not cause harmful interference to incumbent user
Ex: Licensed and unlicensed use of the 3.5 GHz band in US
3 tier approach (lower tiers are protected from higher tiers)
Tier 1: Incumbents
e.g., Navy, fixed-satellite service Earth Stations
Tier 2: Protected Access
Tier 3: General Authorized Access
The migration from exclusive use to spectrum sharing
presents new opportunities
e.g., small operators, ad-hoc deployments, etc.
ASTRI Proprietary

10

LSA Use Case: TV White Space (TVWS)

Analog TV broadcast uses multi-frequency network (MFN) to avoid ghosting

Broadcast stations use same frequency

Different transmission delays cause ghosting

ASTRI Proprietary

Broadcast stations use different frequencies

Different transmission delays does not matter
Receiver is tuned to best frequency

11

Latitude

LSA Use Case: TVWS in Hong Kong

HK TV is broadcast using UHF band (470-862MHz) channel 21-69

TVWS is under-utilized TV spectrum in a geographical area due to analog TV
multi-frequency network deployment

Example: Castle Peak

TV channels 34, 38, 42, 44, 43, 35, 37 are used
TV channels 36, 39, 40, 41 are not used
Hong Kong Analog TV Tower Locations

22.55

Primary
Broadcast Stations

22.5

Different transmit frequencies create TVWS

22.45
22.4
22.35
22.3

TV channel utilization near Castle peak

22.25

Occupied Channels

22.2
113.85 113.9 113.95 114 114.05 114.1 114.15 114.2 114.25 114.3
Longitude

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Channels (8MHz each)

Temple Hill

21, 25, 23, 27, 22, 35, 37

Castle Peak

34, 38, 42, 44, 43, 35, 37

Kowloon Peak

34, 38, 42, 44, 32, 35, 37

Golden Hill

33, 39, 43, 45, 40, 35, 37

Cloudy Hill

49, 51, 53, 55, 30, 35, 37

Lamma Island

49, 51, 53, 55, 30, 35, 37

46

Possible White Spaces

ASTRI Proprietary

12

LSA Use Case: ASTRIs TVWS Solutions

Simulation platform for discovering available spectrum
Simulated number of white space channels in HK based on
the Irregular Terrain Model (ITM)
Many

Available
white
space
channels

TVWS simulation in HK
Many white space
channels in rural areas
Verified with field
measurements

Few

LTE small cells with self-organizing network (SON) capabilities

Commercial grade TD-LTE equipment
with advanced co-channel signal detection
and channel selection capabilities
Self-configuring
network

ASTRI Proprietary

13

Vision: Smart City over TVWS

Dedicated LTE network
for vertical applications

Unaffected
TV
broadcast

LTE SON small cells

providing controlled
coverage

Core
Network

Utility
meters
Security
panel

Vending
machines

ASTRI Proprietary

Parking meter &

space sensor

Street
light

14

Licensed-assisted Access to Unlicensed Spectrum (LAA)

Background
3GPP has been defining the technology standard for cellular communication
over unlicensed spectrum

For fair co-existence with Wi-Fi, need to match Wi-Fi channel access scheme
Wi-Fi Channel Access scheme
1. Listen before talk (LBT)
2. If channel is occupied,
wait a random time and try again
ASTRI Proprietary

15

LAA: State-of-the-art
Currently, being standardized for LTE-Advanced Pro
Downlink specifications finalized
Uplink specifications expected to be finalized within 2016
Based on carrier-aggregation framework
Licensed band, Primary Cell (PCell) is used for carrying critical
information (e.g., control signaling)
Unlicensed band, Secondary Cell (SCell) is used for data offloading
PCell

Wi-Fi device
SCell
Licensed band
access
LTE PCell

Small cell

Licensed band
access

time

LTE PCell

Wi-Fi devices

Unlicensed band
access
Wi-Fi

time
LTE SCell

Wi-Fi

LTE SCell

time
ASTRIs LAA R&D
1. Robust uplink LAA LBT, e.g., mitigate multi-cell / multi-user false alarm
2. Fast uplink LBT
ASTRI Proprietary

16

Summary
Next generation network with require more spectrum
Higher throughput for enhanced mobile broadband
More connections for applications such as smart city
Dynamic spectrum access schemes
Primitive solutions exist now for 4G
Expect to be a defining feature of 5G configurable
infrastructures
ASTRIs research focus
Self-organizing and interference-aware infrastructure
equipment for LSA / TVWS deployment
Essential algorithms for LAA
New technology trials
ASTRI Proprietary

17

End of Presentation
Thank you. Questions are welcome.

Corporate website: www.astri.org

Contact:
Eddy CHIU
eddychiu@astri.org
+852-6406-9335

ASTRI Proprietary

18

Disclaimer
The information contained in this presentation is intended solely for your reference
and may be subject to change without further notice.
Such information's truthfulness, accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and it
may not contain all the material information concerning Hong Kong Applied Science
and Technology Research Institute Company Limited and/or its affiliates
(collectively, "ASTRI"). ASTRI makes no representation or warranty regarding, and
assumes no responsibility or liability for, the truthfulness, accuracy or completeness
of any information contained herein.
In addition, the information may contain projections and forward-looking statements
that may reflect ASTRIs current views with respect to future events and financial
performance. These views are based on current assumptions which may change
over time. ASTRI makes no assurance that such future events will occur, that such
projections will be achieved, or that ASTRIs assumptions are correct.
Lastly, this presentation does not constitute an offer made by ASTRI whatsoever
(including an offer relating to ASTRI's technologies and/or services).
ASTRI Proprietary

19