In this blog post, we will examine the importance and potential of securing the 700 MHz frequency, which is the core infrastructure for the development of the Internet of Things.
“Everything must be connected.” This is the slogan of the “Internet of Things,” which has become a hot topic in the electronics industry. The Internet of Things creates an environment where all objects are equipped with miniaturized sensors and communication chips, enabling them to connect to a network and share information with each other. The global market for the Internet of Things is expected to reach approximately $1.226 trillion in 2025, and is projected to reach $3.326 trillion by 2032. The industry already considers IoT to be the next big thing after mobile. One of the main advantages of IoT is efficiency. For example, smart home systems can control home appliances and lighting to save energy. In addition, remote medical care and patient monitoring can improve medical services. Smart cities can provide various benefits, such as reducing traffic congestion and enhancing public safety.
The potential applications in these various fields clearly demonstrate why the IoT is so important and why many companies are paying attention to it.
On the other hand, looking at the development of the IoT in Korea, it is embarrassing to say that Korea is an IT powerhouse with the highest Internet penetration rate. The government has announced a plan to promote the IoT, and Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning Moon-ki Choi stated, “In order to prepare for the hyper-connected era that will accompany the emergence of the IoT, we will remove regulations that hinder the development of the ICT industry and strive to revitalize the industry.” Large companies such as Samsung have released smart watches, and dozens of companies in the venture industry have released related products such as smart home solutions, but growth has been very slow to lead the global market.
The government bears much of the responsibility for the lackluster performance of Korea’s IoT industry and the fact that the discourse on IoT remains merely theoretical. On April 2, the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning announced its “Basic Plan for the Promotion of the Internet of Things,” which includes plans to foster specialized small and medium-sized enterprises and promote service demonstration projects. It also said it would conduct joint research through cooperation networks with major countries and support overseas expansion. However, the government is missing the most urgent task for the development of IoT. The most important thing is infrastructure expansion. In order for new technologies to get on track and for their ecosystem to be maintained and developed, infrastructure must be secured. Without infrastructure expansion, the industry will be like a castle built on sand, with an unstable foundation that can easily collapse.
In particular, securing frequency bands for the IoT is urgent. Currently, there are no channels connecting IoT devices. Each device uses part of the wireless communication network for mobile phones and short-range network technology for communication. However, this is only a very preliminary solution.
The first problem with the current form of communication is traffic. As the industry develops, the amount of information exchanged between objects will increase exponentially, and it will be impossible to handle the traffic by sharing the frequency bands currently used by other media. In particular, given the nature of the IoT, which constantly collects and shares information from its surroundings using sensors installed in objects, it is easy to predict that the traffic burden will increase significantly. To resolve the traffic burden, it is necessary to secure a wide frequency band in advance.
Second, in order to advance technology and ensure compatibility between various products, it is necessary to designate the frequency band to be used by the IoT. Electronic devices use different frequency bands and communication methods depending on the communication chips installed. With the recent launch of broadband LTE services, the range of frequencies available varies depending on the device, so some mobile phones can receive broadband LTE services without replacement, while others cannot accommodate the wider frequency range and therefore cannot benefit from the service. The same is true for the IoT. The frequency bands used must be unified so that each product can use the appropriate band to upload and download information. It also enables the development and implementation of communication methods that are most suitable for the corresponding frequency band.
The first task for the government is to allocate frequency bands for the IoT. Of course, there are many practical issues that need to be addressed before the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning can immediately allocate frequency bands for the IoT. The reality is that each frequency band has already been allocated to mobile phones, TV, satellite communications, etc., leaving few available frequency bands. Furthermore, redistributing frequencies or taking a certain frequency band and allocating it to the IoT is unlikely to be feasible as it would affect other industries.
However, there are measures that can be taken. Some of the frequency bands used for TV can be divided and allocated to the IoT. With the end of analog broadcasting, the frequency bands used for analog broadcasting have become idle. In addition, the white space bands between channels required for analog broadcasting are also unused with the transition to digital broadcasting. Therefore, it is only natural to integrate the idle frequency bands for TV and reallocate them to the IoT for more efficient use of the frequency bands.
The technology to integrate and reallocate idle TV frequency bands already exists. In 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recovered idle TV frequency bands and has since converted them into channels for use by wireless devices. Taking advantage of this, companies such as Google and Intel have developed technologies to integrate idle frequencies, which has provided momentum for the development of new forms of wireless services such as the Internet of Things.
Korea is considered to have the second-highest potential after the US in the field of IoT. This is thanks to the high quality of its advanced ICT infrastructure. However, without securing frequency bands, it is impossible to utilize this infrastructure. In order for the IoT industry to develop, the 700 MHz band, which is currently used for TV, must be reallocated as soon as possible. The government has announced that it will reform unnecessary regulations and establish new systems to promote the development of the ICT industry. It is important to realize that what is fundamentally necessary for the development of the industry is not financial support, but the creation of an environment that promotes industrial development, and to devote all available resources to infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, security issues related to the IoT cannot be overlooked. As countless devices become connected to networks, security threats such as personal information leaks and hacking are increasing. Therefore, the development of security technology must accompany the development of the IoT. These security issues are not merely technical problems, but are also linked to legal and ethical issues, requiring cooperation among various stakeholders.
In conclusion, in order to maximize the potential of the IoT, a comprehensive approach is needed in various areas, including infrastructure development, securing frequency bands, and strengthening security. Through these efforts, Korea will be able to secure a leading position in the global IoT market.
