By: Nada Abdelhafez
When people hear the word “mobile,” the image of a smartphone immediately comes to mind. In the regulatory landscape, “mobile” has a broader meaning. Under the International Telecommunications Union a wireless microphone fits the description of a mobile device, as it moves with artists, presenters, performers, referees, commentators, and news anchors, relying on radio spectrum to deliver reliable audio that captures the “moment”.
Amplifying the world’s stage
You can experience this firsthand during the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, being held across the Americas. The World Cup featured three major high profile opening ceremonies in three different countries, with performances by internationally renowned musicians. Every player interview, pitch‑side report, coach’s press conference, and much of the stadium show around the match depends on professional audio PMSE (Programme Making and Special Events) devices.
Hundreds of audio-PMSE devices, such as wireless mics and in‑ear monitoring systems, operate simultaneously in and around each venue, requiring sufficient access to interference‑free spectrum to deliver high-quality audio for billions of viewers and fans.
For audio-PMSE devices to function seamlessly across borders, harmonized spectrum allocations are critical. Majority of these devices rely on the UHF band, particularly 470–698 MHz, which offers the ideal combination of good radio signal propagation characteristics in complex venues, convenient equipment size and manageable power consumption. Due to these favorable aspects, this frequency band is also attractive for other services.
More mics, less spectrum
Audio PMSE devices have already lost access to 900MHz, 800MHz, 700MHz and are now losing access to the 600MHz band in some countries due to repurposing of these frequency bands to IMT. As usable spectrum shrinks and eyes turn to the lower part of the UHF band, live events are expanding in scale with each country striving to outshine the others. Consequently, the gap between audio PMSE spectrum needs and spectrum availability is widening.
To overcome the shrinking access to the UHF band and cater to growing demands, the audio PMSE industry is continuously developing spectrally efficient and innovative products, but these advances cannot completely make up for any lack of spectrum.
It is important to meet the following extensive requirements simultaneously for audio PMSE and during the whole operating period:
- Ultra-low latency
- Very high transmission reliability
- Very high audio quality
- High spectrum efficiency
A recent development is Wireless Multichannel Audio System (WMAS) technology which brings wideband transmission into the traditional narrow band audio PMSE domain. WMAS is a wideband system that provides multichannel audio transmission capabilities by allocating one shared wideband RF channel for at least 3 audio channels per MHz RF bandwidth which increases the efficient use of spectrum compared to the traditional narrowband deployment. WMAS will not replace narrow band devices, but it offers new possibilities and opportunities for high-tier installations. It allows wider scalability and flexibility compared to legacy narrow band equipment.
Sharing the stage
Audio PMSE is an excellent spectrum sharer. It has been sharing the UHF band with the terrestrial broadcasting service for the past six decades. The dynamic yet predictable nature of audio PMSE presents opportunities to meet its needs through careful spectrum coordination and proactive planning.
Audio PMSE and IMT are integral parts of the mobile ecosystem, yet their operational requirements make them incompatible within the same spectrum block at the same locations. This incompatibility arises from the distinct technical demands and usage patterns of each service; audio PMSE needs interference-free frequencies for reliable audio transmission during live events.
Recognizing this challenge, some regulators are exploring innovative solutions that involve geographical segmentation, which allows audio PMSE and IMT to operate in different locations within the same frequency bands. This approach would mitigate interference issues by spatially separating the services, hence optimizing spectrum use and enhancing the performance and reliability of both audio PMSE and IMT in their respective areas.
Some things are built to last
The essential role and continuous need for audio PSME devices is not going away but increasing. As live events become more complex, globally distributed, and media-dependent, the need for high‑quality, reliable, low‑latency audio will only continue to grow.
Future spectrum discussions must ensure that audio PMSE devices remain “mobile” with secure access to sufficient spectrum. This is not just a technical or regulatory detail, it is fundamental to how people will experience future major events like the World Cup, the Olympics, large‑scale concerts, and the everyday business of professional live audio production.
About the Author
Nada Abdelhafez is Head of Spectrum & Regulatory Affairs for Middle East, Africa & India at Shure Inc. In her role, she works closely with national administrations and regional regulatory bodies to influence regulations and ensure spectrum access for Shure’s wireless products.
Before joining Shure, Nada worked for Etisalat UAE, where she was involved in various activities related to spectrum management, technology standardization and technology regulatory support.
Nada holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and has several publications related to optimization and deep learning in audio and video streaming.
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