Ofcom to launch white space trial

Ofcom to launch white space trial

Ofcom is to launch a pilot of ‘white space’ technology this year which could lead to the use of white space devices as early as 2014. 

The technology, which uses gaps in radio spectrum, called ‘white spaces’, could provide extra capacity to meet UK consumers growing demand for data.




 Ofcom said white space technology will be one way of meeting the growing demand for data in the UK.

Ofcom is also planning to free up more spectrum in the future for the next generation of high-speed data services, dubbed ‘5G’. This follows the successful completion of the 4G mobile spectrum auction in February.

 Plans to pilot the use of white space technology were announced by Ofcom today at an event for industry stakeholders. The pilot will test the inter-operation of white spaces devices, white space databases and the processes to mitigate against causing any undue interference to current spectrum users.

 Ed Richards, Ofcom CEO, said: ‘Ofcom is preparing for a future where consumers’ demand for data services will experience huge growth. This will be fuelled by smartphones, tablets and other new wireless applications.


Ofcom’s planned pilot will use the white spaces that exist between airwaves reserved for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting.

Compared with other forms of wireless technologies, such as regular Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the radio waves used by white space devices will be able to travel longer distances and more easily through walls. This is because they would use the lower frequencies that have traditionally been reserved for TV.

Written by Mobile Today
Mobile Today


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