FreeNet: Spectrum and energy harvesting wireless networks

The dramatic growth in mobile data traffic is resulting in spectrum crunch, and is also leading to exorbitant energy consumption. Thus, it is desirable to liberate mobile and wireless networks from the constraint of spectrum scarcity and to rein in growing energy consumption. This article introduces FreeNet, figuratively synonymous with "Free Network," which engineers spectrum and energy harvesting techniques to alleviate spectrum and energy constraints by sensing and harvesting spare spectrum for data communications and utilizing renewable energy as power supplies, respectively. Hence, FreeNet increases the spectrum and energy efficiency of wireless networks and enhances network availability. As a result, FreeNet can be deployed to alleviate network congestion in urban areas, provision broadband services in rural areas, and upgrade emergency communication capacity. This article provides a brief analysis of the design of FreeNet that accommodates the dynamics of the spare spectrum and employs renewable energy.