Locally and Temporary Shared Spectrum as Opportunity for Vertical Sectors in 5G

The fifth generation of cellular mobile communication networks is on the horizon and aims to integrate use cases of vertical sectors in its holistic ecosystem of technologies, frameworks, and paradigms. To integrate vertical sectors successfully, their key requirements should be communicated, properly discussed, and finally reflected within the design and standardization process of 5G technologies. In this contribution, we analyze the needs and communication requirements of selected vertical sectors - industrial automation, utilities, and program making and special events (PMSE) - which can be covered by a mixed use of massive machine-type communication (mMTC) and mission-critical communications (MCC), including ultra-reliable low latency communications. Based on this analysis, we discuss local high-quality wireless networks aiming at local, self-sustaining, private, and temporary deployment. Considering the current discussion on radio spectrum scarcity and exclusive radio spectrum rights, we suggest license-based spectrum sharing as the enabling spectrum access technology for such networks. In this respect, we propose three functional extensions of licensed shared access (LSA) architectures that may allow for locally confined and temporally flexible licensed shared spectrum arrangements. Furthermore, the adoption of our proposed architectures would enable vertical sectors to roll out private networks by themselves and meet their local demands.