Crowdsourced RF Spectrum Data

The Communications Research Centre (CRC), a branch of the Spectrum and Telecommunications Sector (STS), Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), has a requirement to obtain measurements of mobile phone Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum performance data from across Canada.

Spectrum Environment Awareness (SEA) is a CRC research program focused on the development and demonstration of techniques for monitoring how wireless spectrum is used in Canada. Wireless spectrum is a limited resource, the demand for which is rapidly increasing. The goal of this research program is to ensure that this limited resource is used effectively and efficiently.

With the widespread adoption of mobile applications and services, the demand for commercial mobile spectrum has been continuously growing. In the absence of spectrum usage or user performance data however, it is difficult for the regulators to quantify the spectrum needs of mobile operators, assess current and future licensing strategies, or tailor new bands for broadband mobile service. To address this knowledge gap, Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) is researching novel data-driven spectrum management concepts in support of the government’s regulatory mandate by leveraging crowdsourced mobile user performance data.

CRC is seeking to establish a contract by which the SEA research program can increase the size and scope of its RF spectrum monitoring capabilities. As such, the CRC would like to augment the amount and geographical coverage of RF Spectrum data collected via crowdsourcing smartphone applications by buying this data from a commercial entity.

The main requirements for the crowdsourced smartphone radio spectrum data covered under this contract can be summarized as:

• Current and historical Canadian RF spectrum usage, availability, and performance data across common wireless protocols such as 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and Wi-Fi.