UK regulator Ofcom is pressing ahead with plans to utilise white space technology to enhance broadband access in rural areas.
Outlining proposals for the technology, including the need to prevent interference with TV broadcasts, Ofcom said a regulatory…
UK regulator Ofcom is pressing ahead with plans to utilise white space technology to enhance broadband access in rural areas.
Outlining proposals for the technology, including the need to prevent interference with TV broadcasts, Ofcom said a regulatory framework will likely be in place by the end of 2011.
“Using the white spaces between TV channels is a good example of how we can both use spectrum more efficiently and provide opportunities for innovative new applications and services,” said Professor William Webb, Ofcom’s director of technology resources.
“Our role is to encourage innovation rather than decide on what technology and applications should succeed. To that end, we hope that these frequencies, which offer improved signal reliability, capacity, and range over existing wireless technologies, will bring clear benefits for consumers.”
Signals from white space-enabled devices will be able to travel further and more easily through walls compared to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other wireless technologies.
For this reason, manufacturers are hopeful that the technology will not only improve broadband access for those living in rural areas, but could also be used to wirelessly link up a multitude of different devices over longer distances, Ofcom added.
