Profitability of dynamic spectrum provision for secondary use

Abstract

We characterize policies and prices for secondary spectrum provision whose profitability is insensitive to the demand curve. In more explicit terms, the paper provides a critical price value such that if secondary access is priced above that value then allowing secondary access is profitable for the licensee as long as the price generates secondary demand. Conversely, if the price does not generate demand then the licensee does not incur any operational cost due to secondary service. Hence such characterization serves as a guarantee that a spectrum licensee can strictly avoid revenue loss due to participation in spectrum trading.