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Expert says connected devices put strain on wireless broadband
Smartphones, tablets and other wireless gadgets are putting increasing pressure on spectrum.
Current wireless networks are believed to be nearing capacity, as every gadget that utilises the technology - including smartphones, tablets, TV remote controls and remote-locking car keys - relies on spectrum.
Speaking to BBC News, Richard Traherne of Cambridge Consultants said the average consumer is becoming increasingly used to having a wide range of connected devices, meaning laptops, wireless broadband networks and other products are all linked together.
However, this growing reliance on connectivity is putting a greater strain on the available airwaves needed to deliver these services, he warned.
Mr Traherne commented: "The fact we're consuming more data means there is more pressure on this finite resource of radio spectrum."
Highlighting the growing importance of wireless spectrum, telecoms firm Cisco has predicted that global data traffic is set to rise by 14 times on current levels by 2014 to reach 3.6 exabytes every month.
A similar forecast has been made by Ericsson, which claimed traffic will increase tenfold by 2016 driven by a surge in mobile broadband subscriptions, which are expected to swell from 900 million at the end of this year to almost five billion.
New smartphone launches, greater uptake of applications and the growing popularity of video streaming are also set to contribute to this upturn, the company stated.
Traditionally, wireless spectrum has been ring-fenced, with specific bandwidths used by certain services in order to prevent interruption, Mr Traherne explained.
"Years ago, when spectrum wasn't so scarce, it seemed like a good way of doing it," he said.
"You won't get interference and those radio bands could be policed easily."
However, this has the disadvantage of meaning that certain frequencies within these groups are not being utilised despite the increasing level of demand.