Ofcom have launched a new consultation today that looks at progressing technology
which will allow new wireless technology to be deployed in the UK. White space
spectrum is the unused gaps which exist between TV channels broadcast over the
airwaves and are used as barriers to avoid interference between different
channels. The gaps in spectrum do however offer useful bandwidth that could be
used by other devices. The US regulator, the FCC, recently approved the use of
white space spectrum in the 470-698MHz range for use by what it dubbed ‘super
Wi-Fi.’ This is basically, Wi-Fi but on steroids- it can travel further due to
the lower frequencies and also offer faster speeds than the existing 2.4GHz and
5GHz spectrum.
One of the main hindrances to using this spectrum is the ability to know
what spectrum is available to be used in different locations and the
consultation today looks at how geolocation can be used to help implement a
database system that can be queried by white space devices (WSD). A simple idea
of how this could works can be seen in the below image. The WSD labelled Master
would query Ofcom online for a list of databases, which it then itself queries
to find out what frequencies and power levels can be used. This information can
then be used when talking to a client device to tell it what it is allowed to
do in this area.
Ofcom proposed geolocation system for white space
spectrum
The main drawback from this type of system is that it would require an
Internet connection to be able to query the databases which could limit the use
for this technology which might prove to be useful as in-fill for
next-generation broadband. The process is not however set in stone, and is open
for responses until the 7th of December 2010.
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“it can travel further due to the higher frequencies”
a) the frequencies are actually lower(0.5 vs 2.4 GHz)
b) high frequencies are attenuated more per km in air and other media
There is another option. Clear frequency some TV frequency across the whole country that can be used without needing to check a database first. Although then you will not gain as much bandwidth to use as there would still be white space.
Is the intention for ‘super Wi-Fi’ to be unlicensed or lightly licensed like 5.8GHz?
@herdwick you are quite right. Have fixed this. Case of thinking one word but writing the opposite 🙂
I think this is planned to be unlicensed.
Why not just use some of the bandwidth when non-freeview television gets turned off in 2012?
Why not just turn off analogue today, no one uses it any more.
” no one uses it any more ”
yeah, right.