Current Status Of Terahertz Spectrum Allocation

1. Current Status Of Terahertz Spectrum Allocation Authors: Date: 2007-11-12 David Britz, AT&T Labs

2. Abstract Recent actions by the US Delegation to the ITU/WRC 2007 conference have managed to forestalled impending spectrum allocations within terahertz frequencies until at the earliest the next WRC conference in 2011. This spectrum reprieve assumes applications for “active” terahertz services can be identified and or demonstrated by then David Britz, AT&T Labs

3. Draft letter for 802.11VHT review David Britz, AT&T Labs

4. Move to define and dominate Terahertz spectrum is already well underway – outside of the USA • The best Terahertz spectrum is being carved up among science, satellite and amateur radio interests • Commercial interests in Terahertz spectrum utilization appear to be actively excluded by ITU/WRC decision policies • Does 802/802.11 VHT need to pay attention or push back via FCC on these proposed exclusive ITU spectrum allocations? Effects on; • Next gen. of GigE wireless networks? • Terahertz Market potential? • R&D for non-available international spectrum? • Transceiver development/Vendor engagement? • ITU policy ignores spectrum sharing advantages of • small cell THz networks ITU – International Telecommunications Union WRC – World Radiocommunications Conference 2000 -2010 IARU – International Amateur Radio Union Region 1: Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia David Britz, AT&T Labs

5. WRC has acknowledged Interest in active and passive services WRC has acknowledged no active services registered to date WRC has put off allocations of frequencies between 275-3000 GHz as being premature and requiring considerable resources The US has stalled current WRC terahertz agenda for later consideration David Britz, AT&T Labs

6. The proposal to review and revise No. 5.565 between now and 2011 would provide opportunity for 802 (community engagement and comment) David Britz, AT&T Labs

7. Opportunity for broader “industry” input Need to identify real terahertz industry and market opportunities so as to hold and reserve spectrum for “active” use David Britz, AT&T Labs

8. Passive services will be protected Though passive services will be protected, emerging and viable active services will be accommodated On going investigation of the potential for these frequencies will be important It will be important to document emerging applications so as to support favorable Spectrum allocations David Britz, AT&T Labs Opportunity for broader “industry” input Passive services will be protected

9. David Britz, AT&T Labs

10. So What's It All Mean? Lessons from the World radiocommunications Conference WRC-07 • WRC 2007 results, at least terahertz is being talked about! Unfortunately there will not be the opportunity to change passive and active spectrum protection until 2011, but the perceived spectrum allocation reported in Interim Meeting Of The IARU Region 1 Vienna 2007 has been stalled!! • The USA, Canada and the European countries have made a proposal that the current footnote 5.565 be revised, potentially by extending the list of passive bands to be protected. This would have the effect of providing more protection for passive services but not yet promoting harmonized bands for active services. • There is also a gentle request to avoid passive services in 'some' parts of 275 - 3000 GHz, as some governments may take this spectrum more seriously than others. • Unfortunately terahertz is not high on the priority list, new spectrum for IMT or aeronautical safety will probably rate a lot higher than future studies on Terahertz. • The current US/European/APT proposals do not harm to THz; they leave the spectrum allocation issues unresolved of post 2011 consideration. • The alternative proposal from the Arab States, who are interested only in active comms systems, would give specific allocations to both active and passive services. This may be required for... long term stability. • With the acceptance of the US/European proposal, 802 should begin to work with the likes of the FCC, US, Canadian, European governments, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to identify and reserve terahertz spectrum allocation for active services. Going Forward • Due to the intervention of the US Delegation and others, the allocation of terahertz spectrum has been put off to 2011 or beyond • This reprieve is short lived and requires the demonstration of active service utilization • Passive systems (bands) will be protected, and bands protected could possibly be extended without active service utilization • The ITU recommends “investigation of the potential uses of the bands between 275 and 3000 GHz by suitable applications • Now we have the time to address the issue more thoroughly what part in active service research or utilization will 802xx play? David Britz, AT&T Labs