Title: Soft boundary frequency assignment methods

Authors: Ian Flood

Addresses: Office of Communications (Ofcom), Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA, UK

Abstract: This paper describes the Soft Boundary Frequency Assignment (SBFA) method employed by Ofcom in the 18 GHz frequency band where microwave fixed links systems are separated in frequency on the basis of the modulation scheme assumed for frequency assignment purposes. This approach aims to encourage the development of fixed links communities where inequalities between members are mitigated but without strict segmentation. Analysis of frequency assignment criteria identifies the hardest objective on the interference path for candidate transmitters in the mixed modulation environment and in the Soft Boundary environment. Possible refinements to the Soft Boundary method are investigated.

Keywords: soft boundary frequency assignment; SBFA; microwave fixed links; frequency assignment criteria; Ofcom; UK; United Kingdom; microwave radio connections.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMNDI.2007.017327

International Journal of Mobile Network Design and Innovation, 2007 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.223 - 229

Published online: 26 Feb 2008 *

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