How the TDRA ensured seamless communication with an RF network that endured temperatures above 45°C
DOMAIN: LandAPPLICATION: Spectrum monitoringCUSTOMER: Regulator
PROBLEM: Managing spectrum for 192 countries
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) regulates the telecommunications sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It plays a vital role in spectrum monitoring and maintaining a reliable, interference-free telecommunications environment.
For 182 days, between October 2021 and March 2022, Dubai hosted the World Expo, bringing together people from 192 countries. The exhibition was held in a 438-hectare area containing three large districts centered around Al Wasl Plaza. The site had an emergency services area, including an emergency room and spaces for ambulances and helicopters.
Covid-19 was not the only dilemma for TDRA. Being a large and important event, it also had many serious spectrum monitoring challenges—managing frequency allocations, geolocating interference, and guaranteeing safe operations. TDRA needed a trusted partner to provide a network of ultra-sensitive RF receivers that would work continuously and unimpeded when left in the blistering Emirati sun.
SOLUTION: A complete solution for remote spectrum monitoring
TDRA needed a turnkey solution: six RF receivers housed in rugged enclosures, ensuring the hardware would work continuously in harsh environments. This protection was essential as the receivers would be located on tripods on exposed rooftops around the exhibition.
To ensure the assets could cover all frequencies from 10 MHz–18 GHz with excellent sensitivity and a very high probability of signal intercept, the agency chose the RFeye Node 100-18 housed in outdoor system kits.
As the network was a temporary installment, 4G modems were used for the backhaul—sending RF data to two remote monitoring stations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This was possible as most of the signal processing took place on the Nodes, meaning data backhaul requirements are low.
The remote stations monitored spectrum at the World Expo 24/7 using RFeye Mission Manager, allowing TDRA to automate all routine spectrum allocation and monitoring tasks. This freed up the agency’s operators to focus on any issues using the real-time RFeye Site software—for real-time monitoring and Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) to geolocate the source of any interfering or unapproved transmissions. CRFS provided extensive training on these two software programs, ensuring TDRA could confidently start operations quickly.
TDRA’s real-time capability allowed the agency to monitor spectrum and respond proactively—if necessary, deploying engineers to actively hunt interference with the three RFeye Stormcases the agency also purchased.
RESULTS: A versatile network that withstood the heat of the desert
CRFS installed the network of RF receivers during the summer when temperatures were pushing 45°C. During the thirteen-month deployment the RFeye hardware continued to function seamlessly, even when the temperature inside the RFeye Nodes reached 70°C.
TDRA was delighted with the resilience of its system, which reliably operated in one of the consistently hottest areas on the planet. The Node network continued to work 24/7 without a single issue.
During the exhibition, the authority experienced several interference issues. However, by proactively monitoring the spectrum in real-time, it immediately mobilized engineers equipped with the portable, rugged RFeye Stormcase to carry out closer investigation of unauthorized signals and rapid deconfliction.
Also, despite the World Expo area being the central focus, thanks to the RFeye Nodes’ high sensitivity, wide frequency range, and excellent dynamic range, TDRA was able to detect interference from emitters located outside the UAE—allowing the agency to gain insights into the broader electromagnetic spectrum.
Although World Expo Dubai only lasted six months, the six RFeye Nodes became a permanent fixture in the UAE. The network’s capabilities superseded TDRA’s expectations, so the system was split—three RFEye Nodes were sent to Dubai for fixed installment, and the other three went to Abu Dhabi. Each emirate continues to carry out TDoA and interference work, ensuring any interference is swifty addressed.