Ofcom proposes alternative way forward for IoT on licensed spectrum

The UK’s smart meter deployment, Bluetooth and older Wi-Fi equipment depends on licence-exempt spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band, while the European Commission is undertaking a “soft harmonisation” of the 870–876 MHz and 915–921 MHz bands for licence-exempt M2M.

Identifying a possible business opportunity, mobile network operators have been trying to develop ways of using their exclusively-licensed spectrum to host M2M on their own networks, possibly in a newly available 2 x 3 MHz block in the 700 MHz band.

The GSMA recently tried to push this work forward through its “Mobile IoT Initiative,” which is designed to “address the use of Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) solutions in licensed spectrum”. Although these solutions could be based on LTE, GSM, or a clean-slate approach, the initiative shows a clear preference for licensed mobile spectrum for M2M.

But in a new consultation, the forward-thinking UK regulator Ofcom has pointed out that business radio licences could be used for M2M as well as mobile spectrum. It also says there is as much as 10 MHz of unused spectrum in the VHF band that would be perfect for wide area M2M.

Although the GSMA says there is a role for other types of licensing (as demonstrated in Figure 4.1 of the consultation, see below) for M2M, its senior director for spectrum and policy Wladimir Bocquet emphasises the value of mobile spectrum.

“Current and future licensed mobile spectrum is well suited to M2M applications by providing the assured quality of service which is often a key requirement,” he says.

We will be closely following how industry reacts to these proposals for M2M spectrum as the consultation progresses.

Toby Youell, PolicyTracker

11/9/2015