This training is targeted to those entering the regulatory environment or interacting with technologies as operators, developers, or managers. It is targeted at those aiming to understand the evolution of Spectrum management and the various emerging technologies that will assist in improving efficiencies, with a view to developing a general overview of trends.

This may include professionals working in the telecommunications industry like technical engineers/technicians, lawyers, and regulatory staff across all departments.

 As a prerequisite, the audience in this course is expected to be familiar with spectrum management.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Describe the basic principles of the cognitive radio
• Describe the spectrum sensing techniques
• Describe the White spaces concepts and regulation
• Analyse the concept of cognitive radio systems
• Analyse the mechanisms that support Dynamic spectrum access.
• Assess the interference limits for secondary usage
• Assess the probability of detection in a simulated scenario 

• Instructor-Led online learning, training material will be shared every week. Learners can reach out to the instructors on the ITUAcademy platform.
• The participants will be expected to go through the study material and the provided references.
• Live lectures and discussions will be held on ZOOM every Tuesday and Thursday from 1500 Hours to 1700 Hours EAT (GMT+3)

Participation in all 4 Forums 20%

Quiz 1 10%

Quiz 2 10%

Quiz 3 10%

Quiz 4 10%

End of course assignment 40%

A total score of 70% or higher is required to obtain the ITU certificate 

WEEK 1 

Module-1: Introduction - Radio Spectrum Utilization

• Spectrum Scarcity
• Spectrum management models
• Approaches to share spectrum,
• Spectrum occupancy and measurement
• Introduction to cognitive radio

Module-2: Introduction to the Software defined radio

• Introduction to Software defined radio (SDR),
• Levels & tiers of SDR, SDR models and examples

Learning Outcomes 

Describe the concept of Cognitive Radio

Activities

Live Lecture through ZOOM: Tuesday and Thursday from 1500 Hours to 1700 Hours EAT (GMT+3).

Forum discussion 1: What factors influence the efficiency of Spectrum usage?

Quiz 1: Friday

WEEK 2 

Module-3: Dynamic Spectrum Access and Cognitive radio

• Shared Access
• Dynamic Access
• Cognitive Radio-Components and functions, Regulatory issues for cognitive access
• Reframing

Module 4: Spectrum Sensing and Interference Temperature

• Signal detection
• Cooperative & Non-Cooperative sensing
• Interference based testing
• Interference temperature

Learning Outcomes 

• Analyze the Mechanisms of Dynamic Spectrum Access and cognitive radio systems
• Analyze the spectrum sensing techniques

Activities

Live Lecture through ZOOM: Tuesday and Thursday from 1500 Hours to 1700 Hours EAT (GMT+3).

Forum discussion 2: Technology changes (advancement) and Regulation. 

How are they inter-related?

Quiz 2: Friday

WEEK 3

Module 5: Dynamic Spectrum Access Models

• Shared Spectrum use & management Models,
• The secondary Market
• Dynamic Spectrum Access Architecture,

Module 6: Spectrum Overlay, Underlay and Commons model

• Spectrum Overlay
• Underlay and Commons model
• EM 2-4 submodule 7-Game Theory
• Game Theory
• The Nash Equilibrium

Learning Outcomes 

Analyze the Mechanisms of Dynamic Spectrum Access

Activities

Live Lecture through ZOOM: Tuesday and Thursday from 1500 Hours to 1700 Hours EAT (GMT+3).

Forum discussion 3:   To what extent does consumer behavior affect the evolution of technology?

Quiz 3: Friday

WEEK 4

Module 8-White Spaces and regulation

• Identification and detection of WS
• Occupation Database-its structure & administration,
• Regulation of WS
• WS devices

Module 9-Regulatory approaches to Dynamic Spectrum Allocation

• Regulatory Issues for Cognitive Access,
• Geographic databases,
• ASA & LSA,
• Spectrum allocation recommendations

Module 10-Technologies using White Spaces

• Examples of technologies using white spaces

Learning Outcomes 

Analyze the White Spaces concepts and regulation

Activities

Live Lecture through ZOOM: Tuesday and Thursday from 1500 Hours to 1700 Hours EAT (GMT+3).

Forum discussion 4: Spectrum sharing- should all public use spectrum be available for sharing?

Quiz 4 & End of course assignment submission: Friday