Current Situation

Spectrum is a very valuable, but limited, natural resource. In most cases spectrum has been allocated to specific applications, companies and even technologies, on what is essentially a perpetual basis. The current static allocation regime has led to inefficient utilization - both within a spectrum holder’s network as well as between network operators. This has created a perception (widely accepted as fact) of spectrum scarcity, yet industry studies show that 80% to over 90% of spectrum allocated for commercial and business use goes unused at any given time and location (see reports). The inability to dynamically transfer excess spectrum from one use (or user) to another creates an artificial scarcity.

Spectrum Bridge is developing new technologies and solutions that will deliver on an innovative approach to spectrum management and utilization called Universal Spectrum Access.

Universal Spectrum Access

Spectrum Bridge's core business is providing greater availability and access to wireless spectrum and the efficient allocation of spectrum and bandwidth within a wireless network. This database driven cognitive networking technology is known as Universal Spectrum Access (USA).

Unlike the static command and control regime in practice today, Universal Spectrum Access makes all types of available spectrum visible and dynamically accessible to all potential users. In our vision access to spectrum and network bandwidth is virtualized, our cloud layer software and solutions commoditize these scarce resources and efficiently and effectively manage access, which in turn maximizes the bandwidth available to wireless devices and applications within and across users, enterprises and networks. By making more spectrum more available, perceived scarcity can be cost-effectively addressed and alleviated using currently available spectrum allocations.

We chose a top down approach because benefits can be readily and economically achieved. Bottom up approaches, exemplified by cognitive radio technologies are not ready for commercial deployment, yet when they are they will complement our virtualization layer and improve the overall efficiency through feedback loops between the two approaches. USA is more than just an efficient way to access spectrum, it’s also about providing better access to information about spectrum, as well as to real time network opportunities and constraints.

This leads to USA's fundamental departure from previous spectrum allocation approaches that see the scarcity problem as being one of “carving up” spectrum more efficiently. USA takes a much more network-centric view and approaches the solution from a “coordination of network resources and operations” standpoint. This requires both a view of multiple sources of available spectrum and bandwidth, as well as the operational conditions within and between wireless networks. This realization leads to a whole new view of spectrum management built around the optimized utilization of our finite spectrum resources.

From Vision to Execution

Our Universal Spectrum Access solution leverages Spectrum Bridge’s existing core products. SpecEx, the online marketplace for spectrum, and our database driven bandwidth allocation technology are key components in the realization of our vision. These and other components are coming together to create a solution that efficiently maximizes the bandwidth available to wireless devices and applications - within and across users, enterprises and networks.