refarming

Refarming is the practice of repurposing existing resources for a new use, typically to increase efficiency or capacity. In telecom, refarming refers to reallocating radio spectrum from one service or technology to another, often from older generations to newer ones. It may involve regulatory approvals, license modifications, changes to network hardware and software, and consumer device compatibility issues. The goal is to optimize spectrum use as demand for mobile data grows.

In telecommunications, refarming is commonly used to free up spectrum for higher-capacity services such as 4G and 5G. This can require coordinated transitions among operators, regulators, equipment suppliers, and customers to minimize service disruption while migrating networks and devices to the new allocations.

Examples of refarming include the digital television transition freeing spectrum that is then allocated for mobile broadband in many countries, such as the 700 MHz band in the United States. In Europe and Asia, operators have refarmed 900 MHz and 1800 MHz blocks to LTE or 5G where reuse is feasible. The process is often phased, with spectrum gradually migrated and legacy services maintained until coverage and performance targets are met.

In some contexts, refarming is used to describe reactivating land for agriculture after a period of non-use, or reclaiming farmland following environmental restoration. However, this usage is less formal and varies by region, and the term is far more common in discussions of spectrum management.

Benefits of refarming include increased capacity and improved coverage, while drawbacks can include migration costs, potential service disruption, device compatibility issues, and regulatory or licensing challenges.

See also: spectrum reallocation, digital dividend, 5G deployment.