Research centre pinning hopes on white space spectrum

A research centre focused on developing white space technology has been opened at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland. The centre aims to work with players in the industry such as Microsoft, BT, the BBC and the UK government to develop technology that will tap into the unused white space spectrum.

In recent years there has been increasing attention on exploiting the so called white spaces – unused spectrum that lies between existing licensed spectrum and the spectrum freed up by the switch-off of analogue television in many parts of the world.

The hope is that these frequencies can be exploited for expansion of broadband worldwide, particularly into rural areas that are traditionally under served by traditional technologies. It will also serve to boost businesses by enabling online commerce and also to support health and education services.

The technology has been demonstrated to work by bringing broadband access to the Isle of Bute in Scotland, in a project involving  BT, BBC, Steepest Ascent, NetPropagate, and Berg Design.

The Centre for White Space Communications was established in part through funding from the Scottish Funding Council and was formally opened by the UK government’s communications minister Ed Vaizey.

“This new facility provides an excellent opportunity for the UK to lead the development of this technology and realise the economic benefits of being at the forefront of this field,” Vaizey said at an inaugural keynote address at the University.

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