Speakers
Tony Lavender, Senior Advisor, Plum Consulting
Since initial developments in the 1990s using 2.4 GHz spectrum, WiFi has evolved to become a ubiquitous part of electronic communications. Each step along the way has required identification of new radio frequencies capable of being operated in a licence exempt mode and setting the regulatory conditions for use of these. While in the early days there was a high level of commonality, now with use of the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands there are regional variations in the spectrum available, permissible power levels, technology solutions required to reduce interference risk and enable operation and other restrictions that might be applied. These developments impose both complexity and cost for current and future WiFi developments. In this presentation a brief history of the spectrum and regulatory environment for WiFi is covered together with current work on frequency bands and permissible use.
Tony Lavender is a Senior Advisor at Plum Consulting. He has more than 40 years experience in technology, communications regulation, policy and spectrum management. His clients include governments, equipment vendors, network operators and regulators. Tony was a specialist adviser to the UK Parliament 2016 Culture, Media and Sport Committee Inquiry into “Establishing world class connectivity throughout the UK”, he chairs the spectrum value and efficiency group of the UK Spectrum Policy Forum and he was a member of the UK Government’s Expert Panel, established as part of the UK Spectrum Strategy, on “Incorporating Social Value into Spectrum Allocation Decisions”. He has worked on a wide range of studies including on the mmWave ecosystem, spectrum sharing, spectrum valuation and more broadly on electronic communications infrastructure strategy. Tony is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology.