White Space: Using TV Spectrum for Telecommunications

IEEE recently announced the publication of the 802.22™ standard which aims to provide broadband access to wide regional areas around the world and bring reliable and secure high-speed communications to under-served and un-served communities.

This new standard stands for Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs) and takes advantage of the favorable transmission characteristics of the VHF and UHF TV bands to provide broadband wireless access over a large area up to 100 km from the transmitter. Each WRAN will deliver up to 22 Mbps per channel without interfering with reception of existing TV broadcast stations, using the so-called white spaces between the occupied TV channels. This technology is especially useful for serving less densely populated areas, such as rural areas, and developing countries where most vacant TV channels can be found.

IEEE 802.22 incorporates advanced cognitive radio capabilities including dynamic spectrum access, incumbent database access, accurate geo-location techniques, spectrum sensing, regulatory domain dependent policies, spectrum etiquette, and coexistence for optimal use of the available spectrum.

Rural Broadband, Super WiFi, Cellular Extension, M2M

There are several development scenarios for WRAN. As an extension of 802.16 (WiMAX) standard, the 802.22 is an ideal solution for offering rural broadband access. Being linked to 802.11 works, WRAN targets WiFi as well (this solution is known as Super Wifi). But it can also be used as a cellular extension to allow mobile telecommunication operators to improve coverage and/or capacity of their networks by using white space spectrum. Another scenario forecasts M2M, smart grid and smart metering solutions (as an extension of 802.15 standard).

White Space Database Technical Issues, Regulation

Sessions cover the description of the main wireless technologies as well as database technical issues. Advanced European actors in TVWS like Neul, BT or Infosat report their trials while representants from research center CEA-Leti and European project QoSMOS highlight their most recent developments. Speakers list also include Spectrum Bridge, Demand Side Instruments and Sigfox. Another large session covers regulation aspects in Europe, in particular WSD and LSA approaches. The conference is endorsed by the White Space Alliance and the Wireless Innovation Forum.

Which technical solutions for TV White Space?
What about standardization and regulation?
What are the current M2M and SuperWifi trials and services?
Is TVWS the solution for rural broadband?

During the White Space Summit, to be held in Novotel Paris Roissy CDG , from 10 to 12 December, 2013, experts will address all technical and standardization issues that still need to be solved.

The conference agenda is now available online

Speakers 2013


Dominique Noguet CEA/LETI	Michael Fitch BT	Apurva N. Mody WhiteSpace Allian.	Jim Carlson Carlsson Wireless


Andrew Stirling Microsoft	William Webb Neul, WeightlessSig	Peter Stanforth Spectrum Bridge	Alexandre Kholod OFCOM Switzeland


Ludovic Lemoan Sigfox	Stephan Weiss Strathclyde Univ.	Michael Gundlach NSN


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