Wireless Medical Blog
Dedicated spectrum for MBAN – a step forward or backward?
By Vaishali Kamat - Last updated: Wednesday, August 4, 2010This is a guest post by my colleague Fraser Edwards who leads the Radio Systems group at Cambridge Consultants. Fraser has worked in the wireless arena for the last 25 years and has worked in areas as diverse as high temperature superconductors, through leading development of the worlds first micro cellular medical telemetry system and on to creating the worlds first GPS enabled bank card. He sees the movement of wireless into medical as one of the most beneficial paybacks of technology into society.
In the recent months, a request has been made to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to allow dedicated usage of the 2360MHz to 2400MHz range of spectrum for medical devices in and around healthcare facilities that transmit patients’ vital signs data (Medical Body Area Networks). This spectrum is currently used for several other services, including testing the safety of planes.
Against a backdrop of the FCC’s national broadband plan calling for 500MHz to be made available for broadband use in the next 10 years, there are some parts of the wireless medical arena where an outmoded protectionist approach to spectrum utilisation still rears its ugly head.
The benefits of wireless connectivity to the medical sector will ultimately contribute to the nation’s well-being. However, to fit within national plans, connectivity solutions must make best use of the available assets, which in the case of radio spectrum are very finite. As technology evolves and the methods for accessing spectrum allow for more efficient use, the call for exclusive use of the 2360 to 2400MHz spectrum for Medical Body Area Networks seems to be a retrograde step.
The Presidential memorandum of June 28 specifically states that “to achieve mobile wireless broadband’s full potential, we need an environment where innovation thrives”. We believe that moving towards the cognitive principle of using intelligence to provide maximum spectrum utilisation fits much better with the idea of innovating to drive efficiency. Ring fencing spectrum, rather than sharing, conflicts dramatically with the ethos of what should be a forward looking industry. After all, if we stay with the same old allocation models, we will end up with the same inefficiencies and revenue streams – with no innovation and no net gain. Conversely, there is also no gain in technological change just for the sake of change. However, introducing new technology that provides better spectrum utilisation and, in turn, generates a greater number of services (for more people at lower cost) does benefit the economy and creates a feel-good factor for the nation.
The wireless medical space already has several tranches of spectrum in which to operate. Ring fencing additional spectrum is in direct conflict with the need for innovation. Innovation in the form of technologies such as Whitespace and cognitive radio access catalyses the drive to more efficient spectral usage. The medical sector, where the application of wireless technology promises to deliver significant benefits, would indeed profit from seizing the advantages that such innovation can provide.
Comments:
Tweets that mention Dedicated spectrum for MBAN – a step forward or backward? » Wireless Medical — Topsy.com Said,
August 6, 2010 @ 9:45 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by WSN Observation, Paul Williamson. Paul Williamson said: Interesting post on GE's call for dedicated healthcare wireless spectrum by Fraser Edwards of Cambridge Consultants http://bit.ly/910HzT [...]
Chris Johnson Said,
August 7, 2010 @ 11:27 am
Paul makes some good points.
I would add that the industry has progressed beyond the exclusive allocation of spectrum as the main strategy for assuring reliable communications.
Paul Williamson Said,
August 5, 2010 @ 10:05 am
I understand the need for reliable communications for body area sensors in a hospital, but I have to agree that the use of dedicated spectrum seems a poor solution.
Using dedicated spectrum to reduce interference in a hospital ward prevents the use of prime spectrum in all other environments. There must be a better way to manage the spectrum.
I have yet to see a strong case from the healthcare companies to explain what use case justifies the spectrum allocation. I would suggest a use case led evaluation of exisiting technologies.
At the very least it would seem that the FCC should look at Cognitive sharing of the spectrum, or dedicated spectrum only around registered hospitals. Whitespace techniques with a database lookup could even free up the WMTS spectrum.