There are legitimate but competing demands for access to the Upper 6GHz band by proponents of Wi-Fi and mobile services both internationally and in the UK. What are the advantages/disadvantages to the UK of an allocation favouring mobile or Wi-Fi compared to a hybrid option, which enables access but with limitations to both services?

Background

For the deployment of current and future technologies, DI wishes to develop a stronger evidence base around the benefits of and barriers to their deployment, with a focus on the adoption of 5G and open network infrastructure to build the resilience of networks and support innovation. DI needs to develop models and techniques to understand efficient spectrum allocation and understand the issues surrounding the use of specific spectrum bands.
DI needs to better understand the trends around technological convergence, future demand for digital connectivity, regulation around access to the internet and emerging cloud services and their impact on security.
DI wishes to complement its understanding of current technology deployment with research into the work driving future technologies to develop and increase the UK’s future capabilities.
All of this needs to be underpinned by further research into the security and resilience of UK networks, addressing future developments and threats, gaining insight into the value of security interventions and barriers to investment in security.

Next steps

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Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DSIT Areas of Research Interest 2024 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Enabling Affordable Internet Access with Dynamic Spectrum Management and Software Defined Radio

    This project aims to investigate how the use of dynamic spectrum access (DSA) management and geo-location database technology, combined with software defined radio (SDR) implementations may be used to enable effective an...

    Funded by: GCRF

    Lead research organisation: University of Strathclyde

    Why might this be relevant?

    Partially relevant as it focuses on enabling affordable internet access with dynamic spectrum management, which is related to spectrum allocation but not specifically addressing the advantages/disadvantages of favoring mobile or Wi-Fi in the UK.

  • Seamless and Adaptive Wireless Access for Efficient Future Networks (SERAN)

    Wireless communications is becoming a pervasive technology that we use throughout our lives. Across society, there is a move away from using the internet on desktop computers and towards mobile phones, laptops and tablet...

    Funded by: EPSRC

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    Why might this be relevant?

    Partially relevant as it discusses efficient management of radio spectrum and new spectrum bands, which are related to spectrum allocation but does not directly address the advantages/disadvantages of favoring mobile or Wi-Fi in the UK.

  • RSaaS: Radio Signal as a microService

    COVID-19 has had a profound impact on mobile network operations: 1) network loads have surged far beyond capacity; 2) network energy consumption has increased, resulting in a higher CO2 emission; and 3) engineers have li...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: RANPLAN WIRELESS NETWORK DESIGN LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    Not relevant as it focuses on radio signal prediction and network automation in response to COVID-19 impact on mobile networks, which is not directly related to the spectrum allocation question.

  • Sustainable and Inclusive Wireless

    The COVID-19 pandemic has seen many people transition to working from home, relying on home broadband connections. Whilst the UK's broadband infrastructure has proven effective for the many, rural communities have been a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: FOREFRONT RF LTD

  • Secured and Intelligent Massive Machine-to-Machine Communication for 6G

    To satisfy the expected plethora of demanding services, 6G is envisioned as a revolutionary paradigm to carry forward the capacities of enhanced broadband, massive access, and Ultra-reliable and low latency services in 5...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

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  • Artificial Intelligence-enabled Massive Multiple-input multiple-output (AIMM)

    The fifth-generation of mobile network (5G) aims at transforming the role of wireless technology in society through providing ubiquitous connectivity and many other improvements. In the initial phase of 5G, coverage will...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

  • Secure Wireless Agile Networks (SWAN)

    Wireless access is an essential to the networks that underpin modern life, providing communications for people, vehicles, machines, infrastructure, and the wide variety of devices that will make up the Internet of Things...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Bristol

  • An Intelligent Interference-Aware Wireless Network

    Wireless networks are deployed at a fast pace to provide services for broadband Internet access, security surveillance, and healthcare. These networks give users the mobility and flexibility to receive services wherever ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SWANMESH NETWORK LTD

  • Enabling multi-service radio access networks with Massive MIMO

    Mobile communication networks have evolved over past decade from systems providing voice and basic messaging service to an integral part of society, enabling a rich set of services from voice and video communications, in...

    Funded by: FLF

    Lead research organisation: BT Group (United Kingdom)

  • Innovative RF Awareness platform based on SDR and AI Technologies

    The project endeavours to develop an innovative platform for real-time spectrum sensing that synthesizes state-of-the-art Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technologies with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm mod...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CHAKANA SOLUTIONS LTD