Spectral characterization of wireless networks

This article puts forth the concept of spectral outage probability (SOP), a new characterization of the aggregate radio frequency emission generated by communicating nodes in a wireless network. We present two applications of the SOP: the establishment of spectral regulations and the design of covert military networks. We then present a simple case study where we derive and quantify the power spectral density of the aggregate network emission, as well as the corresponding SOP. The proposed framework captures all the essential physical parameters that affect the aggregate network emission, yet is simple enough to provide insights that may be of value in the design and deployment of wireless networks.