A "Visionary Young Mind" from ETECSA at the ITU World Youth Summit

Camilo Luis Soto Piñero, from the Development and Innovation Unit of ETECSA, is an example of what Mr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of Development at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), referred to as "visionary young people" during the World Youth Summit, which concluded this Thursday in the resort town of Varadero, Matanzas, Cuba.

Shortly after presenting his project, "Distributed System for Monitoring Radio Spectrum Signals," he spoke with CubaSí about this innovative idea:

"What we are developing is a spectrum monitoring system, which is used to measure spectrum occupancy. Since the spectrum is a limited resource, this is highly significant because, by identifying frequencies that are not being used, we can repurpose them for other services. It also allows us to create a radio environment map—a real-time map that shows the status of the spectrum, which services are functioning well, whether the coverage is adequate, and so on."

I heard something about repurposing, for example, television frequencies...

"Exactly, that’s another closely related project, and we are trying to align them. The first step is to identify which frequencies are not being used in the television band. The second is an international collaboration project with Ghent University in Belgium, focused on a technology called TV White Space, which refers to unused TV frequencies. Once we identify these unused frequencies, we can repurpose them as a secondary service to provide internet connectivity in that band."

So, the first part is about identifying which frequencies are not being used in the spectrum, is that correct?

"Yes, the first part is broader because it’s not limited to the television band—it can be applied to any band or frequency. Right now, we are focusing on the TV band because we are working on both projects, but with just a line of code, it could be adapted for use in, say, the mobile network. As I mentioned, the idea is to create a Radio Environment Map where we can visualize 4G signal coverage. In addition to the sensors we’ve developed, which operate 24/7, we could also use, for example, the mobile devices of ETECSA employees. That would mean 30,000 sensors operating continuously, measuring coverage and signal quality. It would be a significant improvement, and we are working on that now."

What advantages would this bring to Cuba?

"TV White Space is an optimal solution, especially for rural and suburban areas, due to its extensive coverage range, which exceeds 10 kilometers. Additionally, these television frequencies have much greater penetration capabilities compared to others, like mobile networks, allowing them to reach farther. This is particularly useful in challenging terrains, such as mountainous areas or places with physical obstructions. This solution is designed precisely for such scenarios. One way to improve coverage would be to install more radio base stations, but that is costly. This technology, on the other hand, is very economical and can leverage existing infrastructure."

Have you already put this into practice?

"Not yet in Cuba, but we have conducted tests in Ghent. We have two researchers there conducting field tests, and we are exploring options to import the equipment we’ve already purchased for the project. It uses cost-effective infrastructure."

What has it meant for you to present this project at the Summit?

"I think the most important thing is to give visibility to this project and for decision-makers to recognize that this could be an optimal solution. It would be very beneficial, especially considering its cost-effectiveness."

What is the average age of the research team working on this project?

"It’s around 25 years old—no one is even close to 40..."

Has it been difficult to gain trust in your work?

"Honestly, from the beginning, they have placed a lot of trust in me. I was offered the responsibility of leading the project after just one year at the center. For me, it was an opportunity, and I am very grateful for the confidence they have always shown in me."

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff