Ofcom has laid out its vision for how the spare capacity in the gaps left between TV station coverage areas in the UK could be exploited for wireless services and applications. US regulators (the FCC) have made the first move to open these pockets of spectrum up – for enhancing broadband availability and assisting wireless technology innovation. Ofcom’s proposal is more sophisticated, allowing more efficient use of the spectrum. The benefits of TV white spaces is increased propagation, compared to higher frequency bands. This translates to lower coverage costs and better indoor reception, than would be possible with Wi-Fi or current 3G services.
The geolocation database which is at the heart of both US and UK proposals is more flexible way to manage spectrum than traditional allocations/assignments – opening the way to more efficient sharing of spectrum. This is desperately needed as more businesses and consumers go wireless.
What will you do with your white spaces?
