CRSM 2022 : Special Issue: Cognitive Radio Applications and Spectrum Management II

Dear Colleagues,

Wireless communication networks suffer from capacity bottlenecks because the amount of available spectrum remains fixed while wireless traffic demand keeps growing by approximately 50% each year. This is particularly the case in the lower spectrum bands ((7 GHz), which exhibit the most favorable propagation properties, but mmWave bands are also becoming more crowded with both terrestrial and satellite communications. Since the early days of wireless communication, the wireless spectrum has been allocated according to a static frequency plan, leading to numerous fixed frequency bands. Most of these bands are licensed for exclusive use by specific services or radio technologies, and the process for changing spectrum allocation is extremely slow (cf. spectrum allocation for 5G taking many years). Fixed, exclusive spectrum allocation is further characterized by severe overprovisioning and underutilization both in time and geographically, hence leading to immense wastage of precious resources. Static frequency planning is obviously not a sustainable spectrum allocation model, leaving no room for future wireless services and new wireless actors.

There is no doubt that to increase spectrum utilization, allocation has to become more dynamic, and the spectrum needs to be shared across wireless networks and network operators not only in unlicensed but also in licensed spectrum bands. To this end, new mechanisms need to be explored for more dynamic spectrum allocation. Such techniques do not only involve cognitive radio and spectrum management capabilities but also require strategies for the verification of spectrum usage, ensuring the interference-free operation of multiple networks sharing the same spectrum and avoiding inappropriate or unauthorized use of the spectrum.

Prof. Ingrid Moerman
Guest Editor