Enabling 5G and IoT: In Search of More Spectrum for Connected Devices

The internet of things (IoT) is the notion of all devices and products being connected to the internet rather than only computers and mobile devices, as has been the case until the recent past. The IoT is already booming, and its adoption will only accelerate in coming years. At the same time, the world continues to go wireless. Wired internet and telephone connections are becoming rarer with each passing year, and consumers expect and demand wireless communications more and more. One critical enabling technology for the IoT is wireless communications: IP-cameras, printers, kitchen appliances, and more deliver greater flexibility in their design when they do not need a wired connection to access the internet. In this paper, a flexible spectrum management framework to enable greater innovation, investment, and flexibility in IoT products, as well as the necessary architecture that will enable a wider deployment of IoT is proposed. An illustration and analogy from the success of the unlicensed bands used for Wi-Fi technology, and the accompanying supporting organizations that enable Wi-Fi's success are drawn.