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White Space Wireless Broadband Trial In UK Is a Success
Mark.JUK writes "A major multinational ten month long trial of new 'White Space' technology (IEEE 802.22) in the United Kingdom, which uses the spare radio spectrum that exists between Digital Terrestrial TV (DTV) channels to deliver wireless internet access services over a wide area, has officially completed today and been deemed 'successful.' The technology, if approved, could one day help to bring faster broadband services to both isolated rural and urban areas. The TV White Spaces Consortium, which comprises 17 international and UK technology and media companies (BT, Microsoft, BBC, Alcatel-Lucent etc.), has now recommended that the UK regulator, Ofcom, complete its development of the 'enabling regulatory framework' (i.e. Draft Statutory Instrument) in a 'manner that protects licensees' from 'harmful' interference and encourages innovation and deployment."
With frequencies being grabbed left, right and center, for whatever reason, I wonder how much frequencies are left out there for future use?
An infinite number ..... of zero bandwidth!
That's the whole point: There aren't any free frequencies left. White Space technology is an attempt to squeeze the last drop.
That's the whole point: There aren't any free frequencies left. White Space technology is an attempt to squeeze the last drop.
I can't predict the future, but what if ...
What if 10 years from now someone actually invent the technology that can transfer matter from one location to the next, remotely - just like "Star Trek" - but they need radio frequency to accomplish that task
With "free" frequency all exhausted, that new invention can be put to use, can it?
Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
I think everyone can agree we can do without QVC.
It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
You're missing the point - this is to cover areas with broadband access that previously did not have access (or had really slow access because they are located so far from an exchange). This won't give you coverage in your garden (that is what WiFi is for), it is more to get a bigger internet pipe to your house so that you can get some decent speeds.
A picture is worth exactly 1024 words.
What if 10 years from now someone actually invent the technology that can transfer matter from one location to the next, remotely - just like "Star Trek" - but they need radio frequency to accomplish that task
With "free" frequency all exhausted, that new invention can be put to use, can it?
You mean they can't do things like stopping transmissions of analog TV signals to free up spectrum? Like they've just done?
If there's a good reason to change frequency allocations, they'll be changed. As long as Ofcom (the relevant UK regulator given that this is a UK story; substitute with correct regulator in your locality as needed) remember to put things in place so that they can get the white-space frequency users out of the way of a regulated use, there'll be no significant problem. I guess that the devices in question will probably have to periodically (maybe monthly?) acquire the list of permitted frequencies for their locality somehow.
"Little does he know, but there is no 'I' in 'Idiot'!"
Bah, they will just use pneumatic mail like folks always did!
That all depends on the use. Various bands have different properties which make them desirable for different things. Some bands propagate well only in line of sight but can carry large amounts of data. Others can bounce off the atmosphere and talk all the way around the world. Some frequencies are useful for talking to satellites. Few frequencies penetrate heavy ground / water.
We are only running out of frequencies for some services. Also it's worth noting that frequencies are often assigned in blocks. For instance our government licences 800MHz for 2-way landmobile communication. Great stuff, except that really limits the available gear here since much of the rest of the world also usees 400MHz for 2-way landmobile.
Most importantly of all, these frequency assignments are variable. They get reviewed, and they get changed depending on the needs (of the corporations usually).
> I think everyone can agree we can do without QVC.
Tell my wife that. I'll pop up some popcorn and watch.
From a safe distance. :)
Cogito, igitur comedam pizza.