Investment technology development
What is Frequency Spectrum?
A limited natural resource.
Frequency spectrum is a limited natural resource and represents a key pillar of technologies, services and daily wireless activities. It constitutes the entirety of electromagnetic waves used to transmit information from one point to another. These waves are expressed in the name of frequencies for their technological uses in fields of satellites, mobile phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other fields.
As the frequency spectrum is a limited natural resource, CST manages the spectrum through planning, licensing and monitoring processes in line with global trends and needs of the Kingdom's frequency spectrum users.
Frequency is measured in Hertz unit named in honor of German physicist Heinrich Hertz, who discovered nature of these waves and how they work.
Frequency spectrum has a range between 3 kHz and 300 GHz in the electromagnetic spectrum map. Wireless transmission transcends the political boundaries of States and may cause harmful interference to wireless signals between radio systems operating in those States. Therefore, frequency spectrum management is a matter of great importance at the national, regional and international levels. ITU, a UN Specialized Agency, is responsible for managing use of frequency spectrum and satellite orbits internationally, setting standards for wireless communication systems, mediating disputes over use of frequency spectrum, and other ICT-related issues.
Related Terms
Means oscillations that carry a form of energy and are divided into: Electromagnetic waves that can pass through space and mechanical waves that need a range to travel through it.
Means number of cycles that occur per second and its unit is Hertz.
The amount of distance between two consecutive peaks and the cycle is the time needed to cut wavelength.
Means the amount of distance traveled at a given time.
Frequency range scale:
- If a 2.40 GHz to 2.48 GHz band is used by a device, the bandwidth will be 80 MHz.
- The higher the frequency, the shorter the waves. This means that the bandwidth is larger.
- Most of information transmitted in the bandwidth is between intersection points with -3dB
Spectrum is a national wealth of great economic value
Analyses from various benchmarked country data indicate that frequency spectrum contributes to the economy by boosting GDP (by at least 4.3% in top 20 leading countries in the field of ICT). When it comes to ICT Development Index, we can see that the Kingdom's contribution to GDP nowadays is approximately 4.2%. This means that there is a significant additional economic value that the Kingdom can exploit from the spectrum.
Increasing non-oil revenues
Increasing the gross domestic product
Frequency spectrum is an essential enabler of wireless technologies in various applications.
Aviation
Defense
Meteorology
Public communication networks
Transportation
Climate-related research
Science and Astronomy
Smart Cities
What is CST’s role in frequency spectrum?
CST manages frequency spectrum in the Kingdom for various uses. CST is also concerned with coordinating with ITU and countries of the region to regulate use of spectrum and determine future directions.
Frequency Spectrum Management Objectives:
- Enhancing efficiency of spectrum use
- Reducing harmful interference to wireless frequencies
- Enabling emerging wireless technologies
- Keeping abreast of future trends
- Stimulating investments in wireless technologies
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