WBA and DSA working towards utilization of unlicensed wireless technologies

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the industry association focused on driving next generation Wi-Fi and its role in Public Wi-Fi services, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Converged Services, Smart Cities and 5G, and the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA), the Global Organisation advocating laws and regulation that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilisation; are set to begin working together to promote and support the development of unlicensed wireless technologies, including TV white space.

The strategic partnership will see the development of mutual engagement between the two organizations and their members to use their combined efforts to drive forward and innovate in unlicensed, expanding the available spectrum as well as co-developing guidelines with the aim of ensuring interoperability within the ecosystem and promoting the usage of unlicensed wireless technologies at both the technical and regulatory level.

Both organizations will also cooperate at their respective industry leading events; the DSA’s Global Summit (26-28 April 2016, Colombia) and WBA’s Wi-Fi Global Congress, currently underway in San Jose.

“The growing appetite for data, both for consumer use and, increasingly, in voice and IoT deployments, means that innovative solutions need to be explored to maximize the efficiency of wireless spectrum use. The combination of Wi-Fi and other unlicensed wireless technologies require effective spectrum utilization to provide the oxygen of future innovation,” said Shrikant Shenwai, CEO, Wireless Broadband Alliance. “The work undertaken by the WBA and the DSA will expedite the availability of a new generation of Internet access. With the collective strengths of our combined memberships, this partnership can act as a positive force for the development of – and innovation in – unlicensed.”

“The Wi-Fi ecosystem is invaluable to connecting the next four billion consumers in emerging markets,” added H Nwana, Executive Director, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance. “The partnership between the DSA and the WBA symbolises the true commitment we jointly hold to educate and promote the development and expansion of unlicensed wireless technologies to new non-traditional markets. This work will support Governments with their economic growth and enable a new wave of start-ups to bring innovations in the unlicensed wireless ecosystem to the top of the agenda.”

In the past 20 years, radio technologies in unlicensed spectrum, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ZigBee have been widely adopted. Access to unlicensed bands has enabled innovation and business deployment by entities ranging from the world’s largest companies to the smallest of startups.