The Portuguese PilotLicensed Shared Access (LSA)

José Pedro Borrego

Lisbon, May 19th, 2021

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Framework and objectives of the

Portuguese study on LSA

José Pedro BorregoANACOM

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Drivers to Promote this Study

• To get fundamental know-how and experience, in advance, to prepare (or

not) the introduction of a new paradigm of spectrum sharing – the LSA model –

which was not yet “commercially” introduced.

• The necessity of defining specific conditions and restrictions to be applied to

the Portuguese reality.

• Some particular technological issues have not been tested in other European

LSA pilots, which should be thoroughly investigated (and developed from

scratch).

• The European Commission has shown a strong interest in following the

progress and taking note on the results of projects in this field, to be carried

out in the Member States.

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Differentiate Factors

• Automatic interaction between the incumbent user and the LSA database,

using a dedicated hardware device (LSA Warner), which operates

transparently.

• Introduction of enhanced redundant mechanisms to protect the incumbent user,

by adopting automatic spectrum sensing techniques.

• Optimisation of exclusion areas and sharing/utilisation time of this band,

through dedicated hardware, developed during the course of this project.

• Reinforced protection against interference, not only based on estimations or

calculations produced by computational tools or simulators, but also with the

feedback of sensing devices (monitoring activity and measurements acquired in

the field, in real-time).

• Development of a technological solution which should be minimally

intrusive, adapted to the national reality, to minimise the impact of a possible

introduction of an LSA model in Portugal.

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Strategic Aspects

• The involvement of industry partners (manufacturers), TV broadcasters and

communication service providers (mobile operators) enable important

synergies to design real scenarios, to be tested, and an appropriate integration

and interoperability of technologies, solutions and devices.

• Contribution to the qualification of the Portuguese industry, broadcasters,

mobile operators, R&D units and the regulator, with knowledge and critical

capacity to propose alternative solutions of spectrum sharing and, at the same

time, to be updated on the trends and state-of-the-art in this area.

• Validation of a technological solution developed in Portugal, under real

assumptions and test scenarios, suitable for international demonstration.

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Partnership

Mobile Operators TV Broadcasters

Industry/Manufacturers R&D/Academia

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The 2,3-2,4 GHz band in Portugal

Their Licenses grant the right of using the

allocated spectrum

• Anytime

• Anywhere (within the country)

• Without previous or additional requests

(before using the spectrum)

f (MHz)2300 2330 2360 2390

SAP/SAB (Service Ancillary to Programme making / Services Ancillary to Broadcasting)

30 MHz

Incumbent Services

Some Underused Spectrum

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How to optimise this spectrum utilisation

• To optimise this spectrum utilisation, without compromising the

incumbent services, it would be very interesting and useful to

identify:

• Where

• When

• Better, if this could be done automatically and transparently to the

user

• LSA Warner

• Geo-location

• Spectrum sensing and detection

• Connection with the LSA Controller

Incumbent services are being used

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Conceptual Network Diagram

PM

SE In

cum

bent

Video

Link

(2,3

– 2

,4 G

Hz)

PMSE Incumbent

Outside Broadcasting Unit

Satellite News

Gathering Unit

PMSE Incumbent

TV Camera

Video Link

LSA Warner

Sensing and

Control

GPS

LSA

Operator 1

LTE TDD

e-Node B

LSA

Operator 2

LTE TDD

e-Node BUE

UE

UE

UE

LSA Mobile UL/DL

(2,3 – 2,4 GHz)

LSA Mobile UL/DL

(2,3 – 2,4 GHz)

LSA

Repository

NRA

3G/4G Gateway

PMSE Incumbent

Client Interface

LSA 3

LSA 2

LSA x

3G/4G

Connection

LSA

Controller 1

LSA Licensee 1

LSA Licensee 2

LSA

Controller 2

LSA 1

LSA 1

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Field Trial and Complementary Tests

• Design of a test-bed environment capable of reproducing, under realistic conditions, the

operation of an LSA network, in the 2.3 - 2.4 GHz band, according to the national

regulatory “reality”.

• Performance tests using SAP/SAB video links and the LTE-TDD mobile network,

operating according to the LSA concept, under assessment, taking into account:

• Interference analysis (field measurements should be carried out)

• QoS evaluation for both incumbent (video links) and mobile (LTE-TDD)

technologies:

• SNR degradation

• Evacuation and recovery time (“time to react to a request from an incumbent”)

• characterisation of the indoor and outdoor coverage provided by the mobile

network

• Final Report with the main conclusions and recommendations for the implementation

(or not) of an LSA solution in Portugal.

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Final Report

https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1636571&languageId=1

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Field Trials

José Pedro BorregoANACOM

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Field Trial – Pilot Network

PM

SE In

cum

bent

Video

Link

(2,3

– 2

,4 G

Hz)

PMSE Incumbent

TV Camera

Video Link Transmitter

LSA Warner

Sensing and

Control

GPS

LSA

Operator 1

LTE TDD

e-Node B

LSA

Operator 2

LTE TDD

e-Node B

UE

UE

LSA Mobile UL/DL

(2,3 – 2,4 GHz)

LSA

Repository

3G/4G Gateway LSA x

3G/4G

Connection

LSA

Controller 1

LSA Licensee 1

LSA Licensee 2

LSA 1

PMSE Incumbent

Video Link Receiver

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LSA Warner - Prototype

Power Detector

Final Prototype

GPS &

Communications

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LSA Warner Prototype

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Testbed Core Network

PoP

Aveiro

IT Aveiro

eNodeB 4G

EPC

TPL

Netact

TPL

VLAN 521

VLAN 520

Fibra Escura P2P

FO P2P

VM App

Fairspectrum

Public

Net Fairspectrum

Server

Partilha de espectro

PMSE → Mobile

Band 40 (2.3-2.4GHz)

Public

Net

CORE TEST-PLANT

NOS core network testing environment

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Huawei e-NodeB

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Nokia e-NodeB

Nokia Flexi Zone Micro small cell

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Video Link - Vislink

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Video Link Setup

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Testing Plan

Sub-zone Characteristics of location

Z1 Around 70 metres from the NOS eNodeB, with line of sight.

Z2 Around 80 metres from the NOS eNodeB, without line of sight.

Z3 In the proximity (2 metres away) from the NOS eNodeB (with line of sight).

Z4 Around 70 metres from the NOS eNodeB, inside the IT building (without line of sight).

Z5 Around 400 metres from the NOS eNodeB, without line of sight, and around 100 metres from the MEO eNodeB with line of sight.

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Testing Plan

Test # Freq. Config.

Sub-zone

Test Description PMSE TX

PMSE RX

eNodeB LTE

Warner LSA

1 C1 Z2 Z1 NOS Z3

Z1 Overall functioning of the LSA control system

2 C2 Z2 Z1 NOS Z3

Z1 Compatibility Test between PMSE and LTE Signals Power levels received from both PMSE signals [RTP and TVI] lower than LTE level [NOS]

3 C2 Z2 Z1 NOS Z3

Z1 Compatibility Test between PMSE and LTE Signals Power level received from PMSE signal [RTP] lower than LTE level [NOS] Power level received from PMSE signal [TVI] similar to LTE level [NOS]

4 C2 Z1 Z1 NOS Z3

Z1 Compatibility Test between PMSE and LTE Signals Power levels received from both PMSE signals [RTP and TVI] higher than LTE level [NOS]

5 C2 Z3 Z1 NOS Z3

Z1 Compatibility Test between PMSE and LTE Signals

Power levels received from both PMSE signals [RTP and TVI] lower than LTE level [NOS] Power

level received from PMSE signal of TVI higher than that of RTP, but slightly lower than that of LTE

6 C3 Z5 Z5 Site

MEO Z5

Test of Warner’s detection capacity in an outdoor environment Power levels received from both PMSE signals [RTP and TVI] higher than LTE level [MEO]

7 C4 Indoor

Z4 Indoor

Z4

NOS Z3

(directed)

Indoor Z4

Test of Warner’s detection capacity in an indoor environment Power levels received from both PMSE signals [RTP and TVI] higher than LTE level [NOS]

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Measurements and Results

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The Project Team

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Main Results and Conclusions

José Pedro BorregoANACOM

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Synopsis of Results

• The system showed stable communication between the Warner and the LSA

controller/repository;

• The Warner successfully detected the existence of the LTE signal

transmitted by the NOS eNodeB, even with the overlapping digital video signal

of the PMSE system;

• The LSA controller was also successful in deactivating the LTE signal

transmitted by the eNodeB, so that the PMSE system could use the same

shared spectrum;

• Detection and actuation time ~50 seconds (evacuation time).

• Re-establishment time ~50 seconds (recovery time);

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Main Conclusions

• The LSA concept was proven, and the LSA Warner functioned

successfully, allowing the deployment of basic features that can enable the

introduction of the LSA model, tailored to the scenario of spectrum use in the 2.3

– 2.4 GHz band in Portugal;

• The LSA Warner detected LTE TDD signals and activated control

mechanisms, responding as desired to the LTE e-NodeB.

• From a technology standpoint, and based on the pilot tests conducted in

Portugal, we were able to validate the LSA concept and enable sharing of the

spectrum, in the 2.3 – 2.4 GHz band, without further constraints on the

conditions considered.

• These results are highly relevant to the future of spectrum management,

opening the door to other studies of similar importance to supplement this one,

not only to refine certain technical aspects that can be improved, duly identified,

but also to shape a legal and regulatory framework to lay the groundwork for the

introduction of the LSA model.

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