- Published in issue 1/2018 on page 126
Open the Radio Spectrum!
Elektor Ethics series
When Guglielmo Marconi claimed a monopoly on the use of radio waves around 1900, he was thwarted right away by national states. In 1906, they signed an international treaty stating that radio spectrum be ruled by national sovereignty. Since then, the use of radio spectrum has been strictly regulated. Although there are good reasons to organise the spectrum, the way in which this is done hinders progress. New technologies make it possible to allow more users in certain frequency ranges. This is necessary to facilitate the explosive growth of wireless devices. In addition, wireless connections are an important link in the chain to give access to over 3 billion people who do not yet have an Internet connection.