The American mega tech company Google is set to exploit
“white space”, the gaps between TV broadcast signals which have great potential
for wireless broadband.
This is because the frequencies are low and this enables signals to travel over relatively long distance. This is expected to be of great application in rural areas, but at the risk of interfering with other transmissions.
These tests showed one of white space’s features which is its ability to pass through walls especially in the use of GPS. This feature is absent in the traditional wireless spectrum. The availability is high since we already have TV broadcast signals everywhere.
This also means the cost is low since it’s a wasted spectrum in the first place.
Google has launched its ‘spectrum database’, a 45-day trial period with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) between March 4th and April 17th. On Monday, Google launched a trial in South Africa, specifically 10 schools in Cape town.
The base stations are sited on the Tygerberg hill, which is next to several heavily populated areas. Google is connecting the market with broadband internet connectivity using available unlicensed white space. In addition to this, it is to monitor if the use of white space will interfere with local TV broadcasters or not.
It is expected that if these trials are successful, the use of white space in addition to or replacement of the traditional wireless spectrum in the United States could occur sooner rather than later. Google is also trying to encourage African governments to make white space spectrum license-free as it is in the U. S.
The implication of a successful Google trial in Africa is that it will enable better internet usage. It must be noted that Africa has low penetration of the initial wireless spectrum and the ‘white space technology’ could bring the expected solution to this.
Google is getting bigger everyday after so many innovations like streaming video, self-driving cars, internet TV, Android OS (Operating System), Google glass (which is coming soon), etc. and this could also be one of those places where Google lead the pack.
This is because the frequencies are low and this enables signals to travel over relatively long distance. This is expected to be of great application in rural areas, but at the risk of interfering with other transmissions.
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Google has started trials in the United States since 2010
when Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to free up white
space. Few years ago, Nokia, Microsoft, and, and some other 15 companies tested
white space in the U. K.
These tests showed one of white space’s features which is its ability to pass through walls especially in the use of GPS. This feature is absent in the traditional wireless spectrum. The availability is high since we already have TV broadcast signals everywhere.
This also means the cost is low since it’s a wasted spectrum in the first place.
Google has launched its ‘spectrum database’, a 45-day trial period with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) between March 4th and April 17th. On Monday, Google launched a trial in South Africa, specifically 10 schools in Cape town.
The base stations are sited on the Tygerberg hill, which is next to several heavily populated areas. Google is connecting the market with broadband internet connectivity using available unlicensed white space. In addition to this, it is to monitor if the use of white space will interfere with local TV broadcasters or not.
It is expected that if these trials are successful, the use of white space in addition to or replacement of the traditional wireless spectrum in the United States could occur sooner rather than later. Google is also trying to encourage African governments to make white space spectrum license-free as it is in the U. S.
The implication of a successful Google trial in Africa is that it will enable better internet usage. It must be noted that Africa has low penetration of the initial wireless spectrum and the ‘white space technology’ could bring the expected solution to this.
Google is getting bigger everyday after so many innovations like streaming video, self-driving cars, internet TV, Android OS (Operating System), Google glass (which is coming soon), etc. and this could also be one of those places where Google lead the pack.
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Google to test for advancement of internet usage via ‘white space’ in South Africa