BBC steps up interest in white spaces

The BBC is to use the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to host a demonstration of how TV white spaces (TVWS) can be used to stream both live and “on-demand” multimedia content to people’s homes. “BBC R&D is very interested in how the new spectrum provided by white spaces might be used”, the corporation said in a statement, adding that TVWS could be used for rural broadband and Wi-Fi.

Few events highlight the importance of spectrum like international sporting extravaganzas. For the London 2012 Olympics, Ofcom had to sanction the use of vacant spectrum that was waiting to be auctioned for mobile broadband to ensure there was enough bandwidth for the Games.

The Commonwealth Games is a much smaller event, but Ofcom has still decided to borrow hundreds of MHz between 2 GHz and 4 GHz from the public sector (plus the S band satellite allocations) on a temporary basis. Some would call this spectrum sharing.

If you believe the likes of Microsoft and Google, then the best way to tackle increased demand for spectrum is through dynamic spectrum access.

Despite having the lowest level of broadband take-up in the UK, Glasgow is a hub for much pioneering white space development work. Earlier this year, Microsoft held a trial in the city where Glaswegians were provided with tablets that could access the internet through white spaces.

In addition, the Centre for White Space Communications, which is based at the University of Strathclyde Glasgow, has set up a network of sensors to create a “smart city”.

TVWS is widely acknowledged to have stalled in recent months; maybe this is the time for TVWS, and spectrum sharing in general, to step up to the winner’s podium.

Toby Youell, PolicyTracker

23/7/2014