Ofcom invites industry to pilot white space devices

Ofcom has today announced plans for a pilot of innovative white space' technology in the UK, among the first of its kind in Europe.

The technology uses gaps in radio spectrum, called white spaces', which exist in between frequency bands. In this instance, these bands have been reserved for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting and wireless microphones.

Use of these white spaces will allow devices to transmit and receive wireless signals for applications such as broadband access for rural communities, Wi-Fi-like services or new machine-to-machine' networks.

Ofcom is inviting industry to take part in the pilot, which is intended to take place in the autumn. The locations for the trial will be chosen once trial participants have been identified.

Following a successful completion of the pilot, Ofcom anticipates that the technology could be fully rolled out during 2014, enabling the use of white space devices across the country.

White space technology will be one way of meeting the growing demand for data in the UK. Ofcom is separately planning to free up more spectrum2 in the future for the next generation of high-speed data services, already dubbed 5G'. This follows the successful completion of the 4G mobile spectrum auction in February3.

Plans to pilot the use of white space technology were announced by Ofcom today at an event for industry stakeholders. The pilot will test the inter-operation of white spaces devices, white space databases and the processes to mitigate against causing any undue interference to current spectrum users.

Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: Ofcom is preparing for a future where consumers' demand for data services will experience huge growth. This will be fuelled by smartphones, tablets and other new wireless applications. White space technology is one creative way that this demand can be met. We are aiming to facilitate this important innovation by working closely with industry.

Why white spaces?

Ofcom's planned pilot will use the white spaces that exist between airwaves reserved for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting.

Compared with other forms of wireless technologies, such as regular Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the radio waves used by white space devices will be able to travel longer distances and more easily through walls. This is because they would use the lower frequencies that have traditionally been reserved for TV.

Under Ofcom's plans, a TV white space device will not be able to start transmitting until it gets clearance from a database qualified by Ofcom and listed on a dedicated Ofcom website. This database will provide updated information on where the TV white spaces are and the power level that devices would need to be restricted to if they wanted to use them. This will help ensure that there is no undue interference with the existing spectrum users1.

Finite resource

Spectrum itself is a limited resource that is in huge demand, driven by the explosion in smartphones, tablets and other wireless applications. White space devices offer a creative and efficient way to use spectrum that would otherwise lie fallow.

Ofcom recently successfully completed the auction of 4G spectrum, which saw five companies acquire airwaves to launch competing superfast 4G mobile broadband services from spring or early summer.

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

In November 2012, Ofcom published a consultation on the technical requirements for white space devices.

Ofcom recently published a call for inputs outlining the proposed approach to releasing the 700 MHz frequency band for mobile broadband services.

In February 2013, Ofcom announced that there were five winning bidders in the 4G mobile auction. A total of 250 MHz of spectrum was auctioned in two separate bands 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz.

For further information on taking part in the pilot, please email TV.WhiteSpaces@ofcom.org.uk.

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications, wireless communications and postal services.

For further details please visit www.ofcom.org.uk.

CONTACT

Giles Mason

Ofcom Communications

giles.mason@ofcom.org.uk

(+44) (0)300 123 4000

LINK:	http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2013/04/26/ofcom-invites-industry-to-pilot-%...
	See more stories from ofcom

Most recent headlines