Investigating the Impact of Convergence on the International Spectrum Regulatory Framework

The international spectrum regulatory framework has been conceived about a century ago and has since been periodically improved. Under this framework, decisions regarding the uses to be made of radio spectrum bands are taken during World Radio Conferences (WRCs) which are held under the aegis of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This framework, based primarily on the radiocommunication service definition and traditional spectrum allocation norms, is now being challenged by various contemporary technologies and the advent of convergence. This paper shows, by means of a mathematical model based on set theory, that service definitions and spectrum allocations are tightly linked to the concept of vertical integration. It argues that these, particularly the fixed, mobile (except aeronautical and maritime mobile) and broadcasting services, are increasingly under threat as a result of the paradigm shift from vertical to horizontal integration. This paper explains how the said framework has adequately enabled interference management for the past century and why convergence has rendered it ineffective. It finally makes observations on the ITU options to improve the international spectrum management framework and concludes that the options proposed so far are limitative and conservative.