Page 84 - ITUJournal Future and evolving technologies Volume 2 (2021), Issue 1
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ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 2 (2021), Issue 1
and private operators, national and regional – the contribution of the mobile industry to
telecommunication groups provoke a lot of global GDP in 2018 achieved nearly USD 4
controversial technical discussions leading to non- trillion [6];
optimal allocation decisions. The latter are – the economic benefits of accurate weather
producing negative externalities, innovation delays, forecasts obtained from satellite Earth
late comer price, increases in transaction costs and monitoring systems that can mitigate the
non-harmonized spectrum exploitation. The key economic consequences of natural disasters
reason for the inefficient decision-making in EU countries is estimated at 61 billion
mentioned above is the choice of solely depending Euros annually [7];
on technical criteria in spectrum management such
as electromagnetic compatibility with incumbent – reallocation of 500 MHz spectrum band from
applications. In some cases, the principle of TV companies and federal agencies to mobile
“protection of existing radio services” could be seen operators created 250 000 new jobs in the
as somewhat obsolete and the introduction of new United States of America [8];
technologies would benefit from the reallocation of – as a part of the US federal plan to combat the
spectrum from incumbent operators to newcomers. coronavirus, 600 MHz of the spectrum has
The traditional approach requires further been reallocated from satellite to mobile
improvement in international and national operators for 60 days, “supporting social life,
spectrum management systems by applying to keep economy going and to connect
economic criteria and valuations to accommodate remotely to health care professionals during
booming spectrum demand. this crisis” [9].
This paper defines the place and role of the Earth observation and meteorological systems
spectrum in the digital economy, specifies major contribute towards achieving all the United Nations
spectrum users and considers the economic value of Strategic Development Goals (SDGs), without a
spectrum use. The author embraces multivariable single exception. In addition, data obtained by using
direct and indirect boundaries, related to energy, relevant radio systems are essential for monitoring
environmental, sanitary and biogeotechnical the results of SDG initiatives. Around 30 of the 232
restrictions. The study covers the phenomena of indicators developed for monitoring progress
increasing transaction costs and negative towards the SDGs can be verified only based on data
externalities of spectrum access. This work obtained from Earth observation satellites.
proposes input-output Leontief matrix as an Additional important areas where spectrum use has
allocation instrument to achieve spectrum a significant impact are radio astronomy and space
efficiency and optimum output based on an analysis research, which are crucial to studies of classical
of the economic effect from different band physics and Universe evolution. Research in these
utilization scenarios. The arguments of the present areas, based on data obtained with the aid of the
article deal with the problem of spectrum efficiency, relevant radio systems, have an enormous impact
but comments received seem equally applicable for on the development of other sectors of the economy
post-pandemic economic development in order to which, at first glance, would appear to have no
choose an optimal scenario of natural resources use relation to those spectrum-based systems. For
on a global and national level.
example, the success of algorithms for processing
2. ECONOMIC VALUE OF SPECTRUM USE large data volumes in radio astronomy and cosmic
research have been a foundation of the digital
Table 1 shows that in recent decades spectrum is economy.
directly or indirectly used practically in all industry
sectors, standing as one of the key factors Spectrum use has considerable social importance
promoting economic, social and cultural from the point of view of a State's obligations to
development, increasing consumer and producer protect the basic rights of its citizens in democratic
surplus, enhancing public welfare, protecting society. It is not coincidental that basic provisions
safety-of-life and improving living standards. concerning spectrum management in France are set
by legislation on freedom of speech and information.
Some facts illustrating the economic value of Radiocommunication is critical in all phases of
spectrum use for the modern economy and society disaster management. Aspects of
are as follows: radiocommunication associated with disasters
68 © International Telecommunication Union, 2021