The LSA Based Spectrum Sharing Solution for Wireless Research Networks Utilizing Commercial MNO Networks

This paper introduces the VTT LSA Research Laboratory (VLRL) which is a testbed for dynamic spectrum sharing developed by VTT. The VLRL is a part of VTT’s 5G test network located in Oulu, Finland. Main components of the VLRL are the Licensed Shared Access (LSA) system and Base Station Controller (BSC). LSA system controls the secondary use of the spectrum band owned by another Mobile Network Operator (MNO) and BSC is a software entity that takes care of the actual base station configuration when the LSA system requires channel occupation or evacuation. The VLRL has been developed over several years in several projects. This paper presents latest incarnation of the environment as it is used in the EuWireless (EuW) project, which aims to develop a platform enabling researchers to perform experiments in a realistic way by combining resources from research networks and commercial MNOs infrastructures. Dynamic spectrum sharing plays an important role in the EuW concept and the VLRL can be used to study and do experiments with the technology.