Market-driven regulation for next generation ultra-wide-band technology: Technical-economic management of a 3G cell with coexisting UWB devices

Existing regulations for ultra-wide-band technology make negligible its impact on incumbent networks. But compliant UWB devices are severely range-limited, and hence useful for a limited class of applications. More powerful UWB devices could be allowed in exchange for some form of "economic mitigation" to incumbents. Fortunately, world-wide UWB regulations have not yet been set, and those set may be adjusted. We explore the technical-economic impact of higher-power UWB on a 3G CDMA cell populated by data-downloading terminals. Performance is measured by the ratio of actual to potential revenue. Each served terminal continues to operate at the original service quality (signal-to-interference level), and does not alter its contribution to revenue. But fewer terminals may be served, resulting in reduced total revenue. This reduction (given by a simple expression) would be a fair dynamic monetary compensation to the cellular network. As an alternative, such network may receive additional spectrum, and/or base stations to restore its original performance. As interference rises, so does the cost of the mitigation. Thus, there is an economically-efficient level. Other incumbent technologies can be similarly considered, and a regulatory radio-spectrum "mask" can be fully determined by market forces.