“White Space” Networks…the Next WiFi?
In an interesting announcement, it turns out Microsoft and several other companies have actually started a prototype “white space” network in Virginia, offering limited access to specific groups of users.
“But,” I hear you cry, “what the devil is a ‘white space’ network anyway?”
That’s a valid question. I’d barely even heard of them until very recently. Here’s the basic idea.
Traditional WiFi networks operate within a specific frequency range and are generally considered fairly short range devices. Typically they operate over distances of 120 to 300 feet, and require lots of antennas (access points) to cover even a large building like an airport or office complex.
By contrast, “white space” networks are designed to operate in unused areas of the frequency spectrum traditionally allocated to TV networks. When these frequencies were allocated way back in the 1950s or so, lots of unused space was left for future growth and to ensure channels didn’t “bleed over” onto one another accidentally. That space has never been used, and a consortium of IT companies apparently persuaded the FCC to open up these spaces to network development a year or so ago (this was news to me).
Because the frequencies used are much lower than the current crop of WiFi channels, the signal travels further. Much further, in fact. Google’s Larry Page called white space networks “WiFi on steroids,” and has been pushing the project for several years. The objective is clear: lower frequencies, greater distance, and higher power mean fewer antennas to install in a given area. This could make rural broadband, or even city-wide “WiFi” coverage, much easier to achieve over time.
We’ll see where this goes. It sounds like a really good idea, and increasing coverage will help everyone (except highly annoyed television companies who fought tooth and nail to prevent release of these frequencies) who wants to do wireless networking. Maybe in a few years metropolitan and rural areas will finally have ubiquitous access to fast connections…the final death knell for phone-line modems.