An Integrated Frequency Spectrum Licensing System (Ifsls)

Abstract

Spectrum management has been a major concern in the telecommunication field. Regulatory authorities and other government agencies have been on the forefront trying to find appropriate solutions to address frequency spectrum management aspects that range from planning, licensing, monitoring and billing. Several solutions been presented with a common denominator being use of information and communication technologies. Various systems have been developed for spectrum management with greater emphasis being placed on the efficiency with which spectrum is used and far more innovative ways like frequency re-use being fronted. Additional emphasis has been on Radio Frequency planning, Engineering analysis, and interference monitoring with a number of ICT systems such as ELLIPSE by Cril Telecom of France, Germanys SPECTRA system and Kyrgyzstan’s SIRIUS system having been developed for spectrum management. While effectively addressing RF planning, engineering analysis and RF interference, a number of these systems have failed to adequately address important administrative aspects of spectrum management that include application, processing, licensing and billing for the same spectrum. This research utilizes the available ICT technologies to develop an integrated system with a central database that can be incorporated with technologies in the existing systems to deliver efficiency in spectrum management to regulatory agencies and users in key administrative aspects of application, processing, licensing and billing. Simulation methodology was used with a prototype build and various aspects in spectrum management tested. The research has addressed the inefficiencies prevalent in the administrative aspects in spectrum management that range from application, approval, billing and licensing.