Ofcom wants to use free airwaves for rural broadband

When the TV went digital, spectrum gaps were created. White space devices are being trialled in such gaps. When FM radio goes digital, there will be surplus airwaves. These waves can be put to use to provide rural broadband. That is the plan of Ofcom, which is sure that the devices will function equally well in the FM spectrum as well. The government wants to switch over from FM to digital radio by 2015. White space technology identifies unoccupied white spaces through which wireless signals can be transmitted and received. White space technology takes advantage of the spare spectrum bands which are not licensed for any other use. Communication firms are keen on this because they can use it free, which will save a lot of their time, labour and expenditure. Installation of broadband for the rural areas can be achieved with this technology with bare minimum cost as against the normal, laborious civil and mechanical works including laying cables and so on. White space devices are designed to operate on much wider frequencies than Bluetooth and Wi-fi. They can also work on lower frequencies, reserved exclusively for radio and TV. Unlike higher frequency 3G technology, low frequencies function far better in buildings. One great use of this technology is that it provides a link between devices which will enable more objects to be connected to the network. Ed Richards of Ofcom is of the view that Spectrum is of great demand due to the recent surge in the use of smartphones and other wireless technology devices. But he is very particular that it must be properly utilized. BT is doing its testing in Bute, Scotland about white space technology. The results are encouraging. Interestingly, BBC, Microsoft, Nokia and BT have decided to form a white space consortium. In the UK alone there is about 150 MHz of unused spectrum which is more than 5 times that Vodafone uses for its 3G services. Though the speed is only 16 megabits per second, it can be made faster. Special care has to be taken to curb external interferences. If Ofcom is ready to make available the spectrum, Luke D’Arcy of Neul will be pleased to use it. In fact, Neul has already started manufacturing white space equipment.