UK can cope with internet of things spectrum demands in short-to-medium term, says Ofcom

Ofcom said that the increasing networking of devices in the so-called 'internet of things' (IoT) might lead to "increased demands for spectrum" in the longer term, however.

The IoT is a catch-all phrase used to describe the increasing connections and associated data flows between devices. The term reflects advancements in technology such as smart grids in the energy industry, connected cars in manufacturing and the otherwise increasing connectivity of household items including fridges and thermostats.

In a new report outlining what steps it intends to take to address the needs of the IoT market, Ofcom outlined plans to address long term spectrum needs for the IoT age, as well as other initiatives intended to ensure issues such as consumer privacy and network security and resilience are appropriately handled as new IoT technologies emerge.

Ofcom's report (37-page / 274KB PDF) highlighted the likely growth of IoT applications in "intelligent buildings", connected cars and in the healthcare and retail markets, among other areas over the next eight years. It said that existing initiatives to handle the increase in wireless data flows, including its plans to use 'white space' technologies and re-allocate existing spectrum, should address the demand for airwaves in the short to medium term.

However, Ofcom said it recognised that new IoT applications might cause "congestion and interference" in some frequency bands and said it would monitor for such issues in future. It also said it would track "the developing size and nature" of the IoT, and that it backs the "international harmonisation" of spectrum use.

"We do not currently consider spectrum availability to be a barrier to the development of the IoT in the short to medium term," Ofcom said. "The low data rates typical of the majority of emerging IoT applications mean that they can be supported within existing allocations. We have also taken steps to make additional spectrum available for IoT services, such as the 870/915MHz bands, and are examining the possibility of making spectrum between 55 and 68MHz available. We are also exploring options for liberalising the licence conditions for mobile spectrum to support the IoT."

"Many IoT applications that require short-range wireless connectivity could also use spectrum at 2.4 and 5GHz, which is used by a range of services and technologies including Wi-Fi," it said. "However, the spectrum requirements for the IoT in the longer term are uncertain; the market is currently immature and future generations of IoT applications might have increased demands for spectrum (for example, if significant demand for high data rate video emerges). It will be important, therefore, to continue to monitor the development of the IoT to help anticipate and prepare for any significant changes in spectrum demand," it said.

Ofcom said it plans to work closely with the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) among others to "identify and explore solutions to data privacy issues in the IoT". It said stakeholders that responded to its IoT consultation had identified data privacy matters as having "the potential to be the greatest single barrier to the development of the IoT".

Ofcom said that it could be involved in the development of new data sharing principles for the IoT age. Those principles could address issues such as data minimisation and retention, it said.

The regulator also said that it could update its current network security and resilience guidance in future to reflect particular challenges for telecoms providers operating in the IoT era.

"We will undertake work to consider the impact of IoT on our existing security and resilience guidance and whether this needs updating as a result," Ofcom said. "We believe that our existing overall approach of encouraging providers to consider security and resilience in line with established standards and best practice will be remain the correct one in the IoT domain. However, it may be that we need to reference additional IoT-specific standards, or note the need for new ones where none currently exist."