Feedback from the first OSA meeting
Yesterday was the founding meeting of the Open Spectrum Alliance at Asara wine estate, just outside Stellenbosch. There was a good turnout (about 45+ people) and plenty of healthy discussion and debate.
A few notes for the press:
Preface
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As broadband around the world is changing from a luxury to a key social and economic enabler, the need for affordable and universal access in South Africa becomes ever more critical.
The Open Spectrum Alliance seeks to engage policy makers, regulators, industry and civil society in a dialogue on wireless spectrum and how the rapidly changing nature of wireless technologies opens up new possibilities for access for all.
At the inaugural meeting today, participants agreed that:
- Transparency in the management and assignment of spectrum was essential to equitable and efficient strategic use of spectrum
- Expanded access to unlicensed spectrum and “lite” licensed spectrum opens up the potential for entrepreneurship and innovation in access delivery
In particular the Open Spectrum Alliance in South Africa will:
- promote public awareness of the potential of open spectrum policies for expanding affordable access in South Africa
- engage policy makers, regulators, industry, and civil society in a dialogue on the opportunity that technical and administrative innovations in spectrum management represents for South Africa
- promote the existing unlicensed use of the 5.8 GHz band but with expanded EIRP limits of 200W for point-to-point links and 4W for point-to-multipoint links
- seek to demonstrate a model of industry self-regulation through an application for licensed spectrum which might be shared among Open Spectrum Alliance partners
June 12th, 2009 at 22:17
ERP POWER LEVELS
Every WISP is running over the limit that is in place already (100mW ERP)by a level more than you have suggested for the 5.8Ghz Band
June 22nd, 2009 at 08:32
This is good stuff – keep the momentum up guys!
john – the upper half of the 5.8GHz band EIRP is actually 1W, but point taken.
June 22nd, 2009 at 09:24
Hi Chris
5.4Ghz band allows 1Watt.
July 10th, 2009 at 20:38
ERP LEVELS
On the power levels some info:
100mW o/p with 10dB antenna is equal to +/- 1W ERP
100mW o/p with 30dB antenna is equal to +/- 100W ERP