Geo-location spectrum database (GLSD)

  • CSIR
  • From South Africa
  • Responsive
  • Innovative Products and Technologies

Summary of the technology

The CSIR has developed a technology to provide long-range, broadband access to underserved and hard-to-reach communities and facilities.
Radio frequency spectrum is a crucial information, communication and technology (ICT) resource and enabler for a myriad of digital services. It is also an expensive resource where industry invests heavily in current and future ICT infrastructures. A scarcity of national spectrum resources results in low access of broadband connectivity. However, spectrum audit studies by global and national regulators have shown that spectrum resources in developing markets have been under-utilized in both space and time dimensions.
“The CSIR geo-location spectrum database (GLSD) comprises the Reference GLSD (R-GLSD) and the Secondary GLSD (S-GLSD) technologies. Our R-GLSD has been approved by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for assessing compliance of white space devices with respect to South African Television White Space (TVWS) regulations of 2018,” says Dr Luzango Mfupe, CSIR principal researcher.
S-GLSD provides available TVWS channels to radio equipment without causing harmful interference to the incumbent users of the band. The CSIR S-GLSD platform is the only accredited system of its nature in the country and is currently used by wireless network operators to roll out TVWS-based network infrastructure to provide low-cost broadband access to rural and hard-to-reach communities in the country. The R-GLSD system is being used by ICASA as the main dynamic spectrum management toolbox for monitoring compliance of TVWS usage in the country.
The technology can be applied in modern vehicular technologies, home electronics, agricultural services, e-education services and the building of smart villages, smart cities and smart industries in remote and hard-to-reach communities.

Technology Field

Radio frequency spectrum

Business Opportunity

The CSIR has developed a technology to provide long-range, broadband access to underserved and hard-to-reach communities and facilities.

Technology Description

The CSIR geo-location spectrum database (GLSD) comprises the Reference GLSD (R-GLSD) and the Secondary GLSD (S-GLSD) technologies. Our R-GLSD has been approved by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for assessing compliance of white space devices with respect to South African Television White Space (TVWS) regulations of 2018.

Benefits & Advantages

The CSIR S-GLSD platform is the only accredited system of its nature in the country and is currently used by wireless network operators to roll out TVWS-based network infrastructure to provide low-cost broadband access to rural and hard-to-reach communities in the country.

Related Keywords

  • Radio Navigation Subsystems
  • GIS Geographical Information Systems
  • Mobile communications, pagers and cellular radio
  • Radio frequency spectrum

About CSIR

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, commonly known as the CSIR, is a world-class African research and development organisation established through an Act of Parliament in 1945. The CSIR undertakes directed, multidisciplinary research and technological innovation that contributes to the improved quality of life of South Africans.
The CSIR’s shareholder is the South African Parliament, held in proxy by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

CSIR vision
We are accelerators of socio-economic prosperity in South Africa through leading innovation.

CSIR mission
Collaboratively innovating and localising technologies while providing knowledge solutions for the inclusive and sustainable advancement of industry and society.

CSIR values
CSIR values statement:
Our beliefs, principles and the impact we wish to make to improve the quality of life of South Africans are EPIC. Team CSIR pursues Excellence, celebrates People, personifies Integrity, and welcomes Collaboration.

Our mandate
“The objects of the CSIR are, through directed and particularly multi-disciplinary research and technological innovation, to foster, in the national interest and in fields which in its opinion should receive preference, industrial and scientific development, either by itself or in co-operation with principals from the private or public sectors, and thereby to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the people of the Republic, and to perform any other functions that may be assigned to the CSIR by or under this Act.”
(Scientific Research Council Act 46 of 1988, amended by Act 71 of 1990)

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