Blog

What is spectrum management?

Our Weekly Spectrum Briefing usually talks about a current policy issue but recently we have been going back to basics, reconsidering some fundamental questions. The first being what is spectrum management? Surprisingly, national regulators rarely give definitions, so we are suggesting our own. We argue that spectrum management is controlling the airwaves for the benefit of society. This raises as many questions as it answers: Do we need to control spectrum?…
| Martin Sims

Our Weekly Spectrum Briefing usually talks about a current policy issue but recently we have been going back to basics, reconsidering some fundamental questions. The first being what is spectrum management?

Surprisingly, national regulators rarely give definitions, so we are suggesting our own. We argue that spectrum management is controlling the airwaves for the benefit of society.

This raises as many questions as it answers:

  • Do we need to control spectrum?
  • If so, why?
  • What are these benefits?
  • Why might they not be realised?

Our first article considers these issues. It’s part of a six-section Spectrum 101, the others are listed below.

Big questions like these are always debatable, so please feel free to comment. Or if you are a newcomer to the subject, we hope it will be a useful introduction.

The PolicyTracker Spectrum 101

  1. Why is spectrum management important?
  2. What are the key events which have shaped the evolution of spectrum policy?
  3. The evolution of spectrum auctions
  4. 5G spectrum
  5. 5G verticals
  6. A guide to WRC-23
By | Martin Sims
Martin is the Managing Director and Lead Analyst at PolicyTracker. He has over 20 years of spectrum policy experience.
Img Alt

Newsletter

Discover why hundreds of regulators and technology companies use our services

SUBSCRIBE
Comments
Mobile industry pushes for more spectrum in new report  
Many thanks indeed Nikolai - now..." by Jonathan Watson
Dec 30, 2025
Mobile industry pushes for more spectrum in new report  
"It also predicts that in 2024, 4G and..." by Nikolai Shienok
Dec 30, 2025
The search for more resilient PNT systems continues     
Hi Nikolai! Thanks, we'll amend." by Laura Sear
Nov 24, 2025
The search for more resilient PNT systems continues     
You probably meant ECC Decision 25(01),..." by Nikolai Shienok
Nov 24, 2025
Ongoing court case holds up Bangladesh 700 MHz auction
With apologies if this has already been..." by Richard Womersley
Oct 29, 2025