Doug Lung / 11.29.2012 02:44PM
Ofcom Rules for UK White Space Devices Similar to FCC Rules
Reading the consultation
proposing rules for white space devices from United Kingdom
telecom regulator Ofcom it was easy to see parallels with the FCC rules for
white space devices. As in the U.S., U.K. white space devices will have to consult a database to determine
what channels are available to avoid interference to wireless microphone users
and digital terrestrial television (DTT).
In the Ofcom
news release announcing the consultation, Ed Richards, Ofcom
Chief Executive, said, “From rural broadband to enhanced Wi-Fi, white space
technology offers significant opportunities for innovation and enterprise in
the UK. It also represents a fundamentally different approach to using spectrum
by searching and recycling unused gaps in the airwaves. This could prove
critical in averting a global spectrum capacity crunch, as consumers demand
more bandwidth over different devices.”
The white space devices would operate without a license. As
the news release explains, “Under Ofcom’s proposals, a white space device will
not be able to start transmitting until getting clearance from an online
database qualified by Ofcom. This database will provide updated information on
where the white spaces are and the power level that devices would need to be
restricted to if they wanted to use them.”
White space use in the U.S. so far has been primarily test
trials in mostly rural areas. Companies are not likely to make a large
investment in white space infrastructure in more densely populated areas until
the uncertainty over spectrum available after the FCC incentive auction
repacking is resolved. In the U.K., some DTT channels will be moved to make
room for wireless broadband (see Ofcom
Shifting TV Spectrum to Wireless Broadband), although due to
the size of the UK and smaller coverage areas it looks like sufficient spectrum
will be available for white space devices.