Spectrum
Trading Tool for Ofcom However the full benefits of trading will only be achieved when combined with Liberalisation. This is when license holders can request a "Change of Use", whereby the license terms and conditions are modified. A recent study by the EU suggested that the economic benefits could be around 9 billion Euro, but only if full liberalisation is introduced. But such change of use is inherently more complicated than simple transfer of license ownership, as it raises the potential for interference. Ofcom must therefore check requests for license variations to ensure that such changes will not cause interference above the spectrum quality guidelines associated with other licenses. These checks will require software to predict interference levels based upon license characteristics plus assumptions about the sharing environment (e.g. propagation models & terrain databases). Existing software packages assess interference between licenses of a particular license class. For example there is software to assess requests for new FS networks and another to manage Business Radio services. However in the new regime of spectrum trading and liberalisation, in theory any piece of spectrum can be used for any application as long as it meets basic rules (e.g. interference guidelines). Therefore a new simulation tool is required for license variation requests that is sufficiently flexible to analyse the wide range of scenarios that could occur. Ofcom issued an Invitation to Tender for a "Generic Radio Modelling Tool for Spectrum Trading". Under intense competition, the bid from Transfinite (together with CCLRC RAL and Surrey University) was selected. We at Transfinite have proven expertise in producing software that is highly generic and also software that can be used by regulators to give "go/no go" decisions. We can combine the flexibility of Visualyse Professional (which can model any of the services that could operate in the bands identified for trading) together with the regulator support of Visualyse Coordinate. This project started early in 2005 and will run for a period of 1 year. Contact us to discuss how we can assist you in the exciting new world of spectrum trading. Our consultants can provide support in spectrum trading, including:
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