We investigate the feasibility of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor and improve the energy efficiency and spectrum usage efficiency of broadcasting networks in the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) band. Traditional broadcasting networks are designed with a fixed radiated power to guarantee a certain service availability. However, excessive fading margins often lead to inefficient spectrum usage, higher interference, and power consumption. We present an IoT-based management platform capable of dynamically adjusting the broadcasting network radiated power according to the current propagation conditions. We assess the performance and benchmark two IoT solutions (i.e., LoRa and NB-IoT). By means of the IoT management platform the broadcasting network with adaptive radiated power reduces the power consumption by 15% to 16.3% and increases the spectrum usage efficiency by 32% to 35% (depending on the IoT platform). The IoT feedback loop power consumption represents less than 2% of the system power consumption. In addition, white space spectrum availability for secondary wireless telecommunications services is increased by 34% during 90% of the time.

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Spectrum is a valuable resource for broadcasting and wireless communications. Despite the fact that most of the sub-1-GHz spectrum is granted, spectrum surveys in suburban areas reveal a poor usage efficiency (less than 20% on average). Cognitive Radio for 5G next generation radio is a potential technology for dynamically exploit the spectrum white spaces, particularly in low populated rural areas. However, not all the empty spectrum is useful for providing broadband wireless connectivity guaranteeing a certain Quality of Service (QoS) or without causing harmful interference to the primary licensed services. In this paper we perform a large scale-spectrum survey and measurement campaign in two rural areas. We also quantify the white spaces and its real potential for secondary services. Our research reveals that, on average, less than 11% of the spectrum is in use in the surveyed rural areas. However, in one area only 60% of the white spaces can be used for a commercial service.

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