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Telecommunications Google in new 'white space' spectrum push
Telecommunications Google in new 'white space' spectrum push | Google in new 'white space' spectrum push |
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| by Stephen Withers | |
| Tuesday, 19 August 2008 | |
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Google claims that three-quarters of white spaces are completely unused, and that the amount of unused spectrum will increase when analogue TV transmissions end in February 2009. The company is calling for unlicensed usage of white spaces so that it can be used to deliver wireless broadband access. "Freeing up the white spaces would enable innovators to blanket our nation with fast, affordable Internet access. It would mean more competition, much better prices, and a host of cutting-edge applications and devices," company officials claimed. The idea is that services using this spectrum could provide ubiquitous, mobile wireless broadband, something that would be especially attractive for areas that currently lack broadband access of any kind. It would also introduce competition in areas with a single incumbent broadband provider. Furthermore, making the spectrum unlicensed would allow considerable freedom for experiments with hardware and services. Google sees this as "an 'innovation without permission' environment where anyone and everyone can deploy new technologies. And just as the Internet has allowed Google, Skype, eBay, the Web itself, and myriad unanticipated innovations to flourish, so too could freeing the white spaces ignite new and undreamed of wireless technologies." So what's so good about this particular piece of spectrum, and what are the drawbacks? See page two. |
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