Rachel_Sandford
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In a recent statement, communications regulator Ofcom revealed that their moves to use 'white space' for rural broadband and WiFi are well on the way. The regulator has just finished acquiring Parliamentary approval for making white space devices license-exempt. This required a change to The Communications Act of 2003. Now that they have approval, they can continue their current trials for perfecting the technology.
But what IS white space?
White space is the common name for the gaps between the bands used for TV and radio broadcasts. According to Ofcom, these bands, which have twice the range of current broadband and WiFi technology, may be the solution to the problem of providing broadband and WiFi in rural areas.
Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive said: “At an early stage Ofcom identified the potential of white spaces, which are currently lying vacant all around us.”
In Ofcom's proposal, Internet providers will have permission to use these bands; unlicensed white space data services will be sharing the spectrum with licensed operators. The regulator proposes a rather specific system which involves 'white space devices' working with a central online hosted database. The device will reveal its location to the database, and the database will let the device know which frequencies and what power it can use.
The database will be careful to make sure that no TV interference occurs, and it will have the ability to shut down white space devices if interference is detected. For as long as there is no interference, providers won't need a license. Ofcom predicts that the system will probably work best in local set-ups using router-like devices.
Trials are already well underway in Bute and Cambridge, and so far the results have been impressive. Ofcom believes that the system will be ready for commercial use in 2013, putting the country ahead of the rest of the world, which means it will be in a position to define international standards for the technology. The regulator also revealed that it is also considering the space freed up from the radio switchover, from analogue to digital.
“Within Europe, we have been leading the way to try to harness this capacity without causing harmful interference to existing users of the spectrum,” said Richards in his statement. “The solution we have devised creates the opportunity to maximise the efficient use of spectrum and open the door to the development of a new and exciting range of consumer and business applications.”
But what IS white space?
White space is the common name for the gaps between the bands used for TV and radio broadcasts. According to Ofcom, these bands, which have twice the range of current broadband and WiFi technology, may be the solution to the problem of providing broadband and WiFi in rural areas.
Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive said: “At an early stage Ofcom identified the potential of white spaces, which are currently lying vacant all around us.”
In Ofcom's proposal, Internet providers will have permission to use these bands; unlicensed white space data services will be sharing the spectrum with licensed operators. The regulator proposes a rather specific system which involves 'white space devices' working with a central online hosted database. The device will reveal its location to the database, and the database will let the device know which frequencies and what power it can use.
The database will be careful to make sure that no TV interference occurs, and it will have the ability to shut down white space devices if interference is detected. For as long as there is no interference, providers won't need a license. Ofcom predicts that the system will probably work best in local set-ups using router-like devices.
Trials are already well underway in Bute and Cambridge, and so far the results have been impressive. Ofcom believes that the system will be ready for commercial use in 2013, putting the country ahead of the rest of the world, which means it will be in a position to define international standards for the technology. The regulator also revealed that it is also considering the space freed up from the radio switchover, from analogue to digital.
“Within Europe, we have been leading the way to try to harness this capacity without causing harmful interference to existing users of the spectrum,” said Richards in his statement. “The solution we have devised creates the opportunity to maximise the efficient use of spectrum and open the door to the development of a new and exciting range of consumer and business applications.”
