9th International Conference on Cognitive Radio Oriented Wireless Networks

Research Article

Competition with Open Spectrum Access: Sharing vs. Unlicensed Access

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/icst.crowncom.2014.255739,
        author={Chang Liu and Randall Berry},
        title={Competition with Open Spectrum Access: Sharing vs. Unlicensed Access},
        proceedings={9th International Conference on Cognitive Radio Oriented Wireless Networks},
        publisher={IEEE},
        proceedings_a={CROWNCOM},
        year={2014},
        month={7},
        keywords={spectrum sharing unlicensed access economic welfare network economics},
        doi={10.4108/icst.crowncom.2014.255739}
    }
    
  • Chang Liu
    Randall Berry
    Year: 2014
    Competition with Open Spectrum Access: Sharing vs. Unlicensed Access
    CROWNCOM
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.4108/icst.crowncom.2014.255739
Chang Liu1, Randall Berry1,*
  • 1: Northwestern University
*Contact email: rberry@eecs.northwestern.edu

Abstract

We consider two scenarios for adding open access spectrum to increase competition in a wireless service market: making new spectrum available for unlicensed use or requiring an incumbent license holder to share it with secondary providers. Our main result is that social welfare and consumer welfare with shared spectrum are always greater than with unlicensed access. Also when the amount of spectrum is large enough, the primary service provider gains more profit with sharing than with unlicensed access.