We need to think about spectrum allocation differently … now

[Commentary] The wireless spectrum has physical limits. The mobile data deluge isn’t a problem today, but we will need smarter apps and different networks to keep those digital bits traveling the airwaves. The day is coming when the existing spectrum will be unable to keep pace with the ever-increasing number of internet-connected devices and the data the move. So what happens?

Yes, the FCC could potentially shuffle some things around but in the long run, the limits of the spectrum will still be saturated. The need for innovation is clearly on the mobile side. Today’s devices are ‘locked’ to particular frequencies but what if we were to build mobile apps and devices that were “frequency intelligent?” New work in Software Defined Radios (and not relying solely on hardware and crystals) could enable future devices to hop across frequencies as environment dictates and are still being defined for widespread use. The team at Commotion, an interactive mobile radio app, is one developer project that is working on bringing something similar to market. Additional trials are happening to see if devices can be made smart enough to ‘share’ federal spectrum beyond 700 MHz when those agencies aren’t using it while still giving them priority when they need it. Other organizations like Serval, a telephone software developing project, are working to use frequencies like those used by cordless phones to create mini-networks among many devices that can work even without any infrastructure in place.

[Stefan Weitz is Director of Search at Microsoft]