Use of TV White Spaces for Broadband Being Explored in U.K.
The United Kingdom is exploring the use of the TV white spaces for broadband and otherwise looking at many of the same changes already underway in the U.S., Ofcom said Wednesday. Ofcom also launched a consultation to seek comment on U.K. spectrum policy going forward. “Looking forward, a number of important trends that could have a significant impact on spectrum use are emerging, including mobile broadband growth, the emergence of new uses such as machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and increasingly sophisticated techniques for sharing spectrum,” Ofcom said. “Therefore, we believe now is the right time to review our spectrum management strategy and consider major priorities for our work over the next 10 years.” Responses are due Dec. 11 (http://bit.ly/18t8TpG).
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Ofcom said it’s working with companies on a test of the TV white spaces. BT and Neul are working with the Department for Transport to test the potential enhancement of traffic information as part of a wider project along the A14 highway between Felixstowe and Cambridge, Ofcom said. Microsoft agreed to test the use of the white spaces for free Wi-Fi in Glasgow, “which has the lowest level of broadband take-up of all UK cities.” As in the U.S., Ofcom plans to use white spaces databases, with companies including Google, Nominet, LS telcom, iconectiv, Key Bridge, Fairspectrum and Spectrum Bridge, offering to be database operators.
"The forthcoming trials will investigate the potential for white spaces to help meet the growing demands being placed on the UK’s wireless infrastructure,” Ofcom said. “White spaces is one example of spectrum sharing. Spectrum sharing is a long term objective for Ofcom which will help the UK utilise spectrum more efficiently to meet growing demand."
Many of the Ofcom proposals track work being done in the U.S. One focus is use of improved technology to move more data over a smaller amount of spectrum. “These will include new transmission technologies (e.g. LTE and emerging 5G standards in wireless broadband which could enable improvements in spectrum efficiency; or greater use of digital technologies for wireless microphones and business radio applications) and new content compression standards (e.g. High Efficiency Video Coding in TV broadcasting),” Ofcom said. Use of small cells is also under investigation.
As in the U.S., Ofcom is examining receiver standards, the focus of a recent paper by the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council. “As the intensity of spectrum use increases in the future, technology standards that minimise out-of-band emissions by transmitting wireless devices and improved selectivity of receiving devices will also become increasingly important in managing co-existence issues when re-purposing spectrum,” Ofcom said.
Spectrum sharing is also a big theme of the consultation. “As part of its Public Sector Spectrum Release programme, Government, and in particular the Ministry of Defence, is looking to release spectrum for commercial purposes on a shared basis, both geographical and time based sharing,” the paper said. “Spectrum sharing opportunities are likely, therefore, to become increasingly important as competing spectrum requirements grow and options for re-purposing spectrum diminish.”