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Spectrum Fragmentation Means Pricier Mobile Networking

Posted by timothy on from the why-not-just-include-a-decoder-ring dept.

alphadogg writes "The plethora of spectrum bands used for LTE will result in more expensive devices, and also make the ability to roam globally using the technology less likely, according to industry organization GSM Association's research arm. Wireless Intelligence predicts there will be 38 different spectrum frequency combinations used in LTE deployments by 2015, thanks to ongoing spectrum auctions, license renewals and reallocation initiatives across a wide range of frequency bands. The number of combinations means economies of scale won't be as good and prices won't come down as much as they could if fewer spectrum bands were used as volumes increase, Joss Gillet, a senior analyst for Wireless Intelligence."

5 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Ownership of Spectrum is simply wrong.. by yossie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Radio Spectrum starts out as public property - selling it, a limited resource, with unknown but extensive economic effects in the future, is a bad idea. I strongly believe we should nationalize radio spectrum and lease it out, for limited periods (a dozen years? two dozen, tops.) to companies to use as part of their product.. Given how fast technology moves, and how useful (in unknowable ways) Radio Spectrum will be in the future, we are selling away our birthright..

    1. Re:Ownership of Spectrum is simply wrong.. by fsckmnky · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Its not "sold" .. its licensed. They are also working to reclaim, and re-license unused parts of the spectrum.

      Placing an arbitrary cap on the length of time a company can recover their expense, will have those unintended consequences you claim you don't want.

  2. Re:Software radios by stox · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Software works well for the back-end of the radio, ie. detector. The front-end and antenna are another story.

    --
    "To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
  3. Re:Software radios by SuricouRaven · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hear that slurping noise from your new phone? That's the sound of a battery being sucked dry.

  4. Refuse by ebonum · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can the handset makers put their foot down? Can they simply say: we only support this list of 5 major frequencies that are used worldwide? Phones would be smaller if they didn't have to be 5-band (or more).

    Seriously, all these frequencies is stupid. People need phones that work world wide.

    If I was Samsung and Verizon wants a phone for their LTE network, I would tell them. 1) you must promise now to buy x ( 1 million? ) at an inflated price. 2) You must pay Y million ( 50 million? ) today to cover our development costs to build a phone that works on only your stupid network. 3) We have the right to make it a one band phone. If your network coverage is bad, it will not be able to switch over to another network.