The trade publication, Maritime Digitalisation and Communications, recently published an article, Shortwave radio evolves into an IoT network, that describes how one company is using HF frequencies to “securely transmit operational and machinery data to shore.” The article explains how the company KNL Networks uses the high-frequency band to from a mesh network that connects shipborne radios to one another with a cellular connection. Ships close to the coast or in port will automatically connect directly to terrestrial cellular networks. KNL uses the network to transfer Internet of Things (IoT) data to shore over a network that can have a range of 10,000 km.
The article notes the company “is expecting a strong adoption of this technology and for the network to rapidly grow in the next three years.” A KNL spokesman says, “We will work with industry leaders, target providers of smart data services, build trusted partnerships and add more vendor services. Within three years, we will be the standard for IoT connectivity.”
The point here is that amateur radio operators shouldn’t get complacent about our HF allocations. There are smart people out there thinking up ways to use HF as well as VHF, UHF, and microwave frequencies. There was, for example, a report recently about a company testing HF links to speed up stock transaction information.
Steve W8SFC says
This seems like outside commercial interests are attempting to buy amateur frequency bandwidth, and while I am in favor of technological progress it should not come at the expense of amateur radio, especially due to the emergency communications role amateur radio plays in public service and in support of first responders as well as emergency logistics in cases of large scale disasters. Granted that much of that is handled on 2 meters, however surrendering HF to business interests is not in the long term interest of amateur radio, or the public. If they are given this part of our limited spectrum of frequencies, then the next use of RF that comes along will be that much easier to justify those business interest’s taking that next bite of our shrinking apple.
What sort of fee structure for access will be set up for these businesses’ use of this resource, and to what concern or concerns will those access fees be paid? These businesses are having to pay something to someone for these services now, (in relation to the proposed stock information application), and like any other resource these entities should have to pay for this use, just like their internet and other communication networks all other as utilities expenses.
It seems that the interest in doing this is being driven by the idea that radio frequencies can be used free of expense once the infrastructure costs are paid. As a licensed amateur radio operator I use my access in public service and in support of first responders and NOAA among other non- governmental entities as well as being a hobbyist. It is not my preference that any amateur radio band or frequency be dedicated to non amateur use. After all, the ARRL Band Plan where these frequencies are defined shows there are other radio frequencies that can be used for commercial enterprise use.
I need to be convinced that giving up RF territory will not harm amateur radio, and I am not persuaded this is a winner of an idea.