TV White Spaces
TV white spaces are the gaps left between terrestrial TV stations to prevent interference. In the UK, the amount of white space (post switchover) is estimated to range from around 100 MHz in over 90% of locations to over 200 MHz in more remote and rural areas. Similarfigures have been given for the US, where the FCC decided to allow white space devices- in November 2008. A major new report commissioned by Microsoft estimates the potential value from TV white spaces could be up to around $100 billion over a 15 year period, in the US alone. 

This new capacity is expected to open up a 'vast array of applications' including:

  • New HD-capable home networks that reach everywhere in your home with much better reliability

  • Extending Internet access to underserved areas of the country - particularly rural location, where white space capacity is more abundant.

The industry has been busy standardising new technology to exploit this underused capacity. A new standard prepared by ECMA has just been published here.

There are two trials of white space networking under way in the United States:

  • In Redmond, on Microsoft's campus, see the following paper about 'White Fi'
  • In Claudeville, a rural area, details provided here
Larkhill facilitates an informal industry coalition on white spaces, to raise awareness of the benefits of opening white space and contribute to the necessary regulatory developments in the UK and Europe.

 

The UK is preparing to bring a total of 120 MHz to auction. Alongside this spectrum which will be cleared for nationwide application is the spectrum reserved for broadcasting (two thirds of the amount taken up for analogue television).W ithin this 'retained' spectrum are gaps, left to prevent TV transmissions interfering with one another. These are known as white spaces or white spots. When aggregated across the country they represent a substantial amount of spectrum (amounting up to around 200MHz within any given transmitter area), which could be harnessed using new wireless technologies.