Classification of business scenarios for spectrum sensing

Because of ever growing use of wireless applications and inflexibilities in the current way spectrum is allocated, spectrum is becoming more and more scarce. One of the methods to overcome this is spectrum sensing. In spectrum sensing research, use case analysis is often used to determine challenges and opportunities for this technology. However, such use cases vary widely in terms of business context, so that assessment of viability for one cannot be a basis for inferring viability of another. Therefore, this paper proposes a number of basic parameters that set apart fundamentally different business scenarios for sensing technology, i.e. ownership, exclusivity, tradability and neutrality. Based on these parameters, a classification is outlined which sheds light on the particular business and regulatory opportunities and constraints related to spectrum sensing, and could therefore help business actors as well as regulators to fine-tune their decision-making vis-à-vis this technology.