Hi all,

Here is a very informational piece from a friend which was posted to the KICTANET list:

A few notes on TV White Spaces spectrum.

While it does involve television spectrum, it is not directly related nor dependent on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.  This is a common misunderstanding.  Television white spaces refers to the guard bands left between analogue television broadcast channels in order to prevent interference.  TV White Spaces technology is capable of serendipitously re-using that empty spectrum without interfering with existing television broadcast.  The initial vision was that through spectrum sensing, the devices would automatically use whatever empty spectrum was available, as a *secondary* user.  That means if a television signal suddenly turn on in a frequency being used by a TV White Spaces device, it would automatically cease using that frequency and find another empty frequency to use.  The broadcast and wireless microphone industry in the U.S. were unsatisfied with this solution and the idea of an authentication database was introduced whereby TV White Spaces devices would need to authentication against a spectrum database to see what spectrum was available for use in the area it was being used.  Very low power TV White Spaces devices are still allowed to use just spectrum sensing.  In general TV White Spaces regulation in the US has been the victim of massive lobbying and the result is some extremely hamstrung regulation.

The UK has largely followed the US regulation with one significant improvement.  The power output level of the devices is not fixed but can be dictated by the settings in the authentication database.  This means that higher power output levels could be assigned in sparsely populated rural areas versus areas where there are many other spectrum users.

What is exciting about this technology?  

1) No spectrum license required or at least a very nominal one.  This means new opportunities for small entrepreneurs to provide alternative access.
2) Great propagation.  A typical TV White Spaces link can go 10km without any effort and is not obstructed by trees, buildings, etc.
3) Innovation.  WiFi has gone from a niche spectrum for experiments to a multi-billion dollar industry.  As many WiFi chipsets shipped last year as mobile phones.  70% of smartphone data traffic in the US goes over WiFi.  This is what open spectrum offers.  TV White Spaces has the potential to be another such industry because of the low barrier to entry.
4) No spectrum re-farming required.  Because TV White Spaces technology is designed for *secondary* use of spectrum, there is no need to move the primary spectrum holder.  This is a quick and easy win.  Conflicts can be easily resolved by the regulator thanks to the authentication database.

Does this interfere with new mobile frequencies?  No.  Here's how it breaks down.

TV spectrum is basically VHF and UHF.   VHF (Band III: 174 - 230 MHz) and UHF (Bands IV and V: 470 - 862 MHz).   In most African countries digital broadcasting could be managed within the VHF band.  This is not true during a dual illumination period and if digital broadcasting takes off, it could move into the lower end of the UHF band.   At the World Radio Congress (WRC-12) last year, there was confirmation of 790-862MHz (popularly known as the 800MHz band) as a global IMT band.  There was also a move by some African countries to have the 694-790MHz band (popularly known as the 700MHz band) made available in Region 1 (Africa and Europe) on an accelerated basis, probably because there are lots of CDMA players already in the 800MHz band.  700MHz is likely to be confirmed as an IMT band for Region 1 at the WRC in 2015.

This leaves plenty of space between 470 and 694MHz for TV White Spaces.  Do we have to guess how much?  No.  TV White Spaces just uses what is available.  If digital broadcasters need more UHF spectrum, no problem. It can be managed dynamically.  Spectrum re-farming typically takes years (like 10-20 years) because of all of the entrenched interests.  Just look at the digital switch-over for a case in point.  TV White Spaces is a drop-dead easy way to create new opportunities for rural access.

Kudos to Mr. Ndemo for pushing this forward.  We held a workshop on TV White Spaces in late 2011 (http://www.openspectrum.org.za/tvwss-africa-workshop/) to which the CCK were invited and attended but which was received with a high degree of scepticism.

TV White Spaces are finally gaining traction however.  Google is sponsoring a pilot in South Africa (http://www.tenet.ac.za/about-us/the-cape-town-tv-white-spaces-trial/) and I have heard that pilots are being explored in Uganda, Nigeria, and Malawi.  This is going to be big and it is going to be great for both innovation and entrepreneurship.

Regards... Steve Song

P.S.  And yes a clear frequency plan is essential.  What would be absolutely amazing would be to see Kenyan spectrum allocation and assignments published as Open Data (https://opendata.go.ke).  I think that would be not just an African first but possibly a global first.  Spectrum belongs to all of us, we ought to be transparent about it.  :-)




On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 2:17 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com> wrote:
If you are claiming to make corrections, get your facts right:

- LTE: it is no secret that the operators have been fiercely competing for LTE frequency allocations to the extent that the whole process has hit a wall and been stuck for more than a year

- Frequency Ranges: Kenya's digital migration frees up current analog TV in these ranges: 46-68 MHz, 174-230 MHz and 470-862

CDMA technogies that are operable include:

CDMA-2000 (EVDO) 450 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900 MHz, AWS and 2100 MHz
WCDMA (UMTS) 700-850 MHz

- End-user prices: other technological options have wider adoption in other markets especially Asia and can offer much lower prices than this hyped up LTE


On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 11:05 AM, Roy Michoma <roymichoma@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> let me correct you on all fronts:
>
> the LTE initiative is being fronted by government and not individual operators in a shared infrastructure model
> LTE devices were expensive because it was new technology. with various networks worldwide deploying the standard devices have to come down in price in the competitive market that is the global village. which is definitely cheaper that all R&D and development of new devices
> CDMA doesn't use the low end frequency range that is used by LTE which has the definite advantage of covering large areas with least amount of interference
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 10:57 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I disagree that LTE is the best solution for... firstly, it will be controlled by the mobile operators, who have no interest in "the masses", scondly it is very expensive infrastructure - they will have to price it to recover their investment, secondly - last time I checked, end user devices (usb dongles) were in the $300 range - far too expensive for a mass market solution.
>>
>> LTE is not our answer - there are far cheaper technologies that can be deployed at far lower costs with equal benefits - CDMA is one of them!
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 10:47 AM, Roy Michoma <roymichoma@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I think this is a temporary bandage for providing broadband access to the masses, here is my analysis the whitespace spectrum is using the old analogue TV frequencies that are to be decommissioned for LTE network, which if this COFEK people could see past their own noses would realize that the LTE network would be more beneficial to the consumers they are pretending to protect that mark-timing on old obsolete analogue TV
>>>  LTE network already have devices in the market and international standardization using this spectrums
>>> thus is think this is just reinventing the wheel!!
>>>
>>> my 2bob!!
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 10:34 AM, Paul Roy <roykoikai@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Just to quantify the coverage a radius of 200kms of broadband coverage. Think of the marginalized areas of this country. It will offer tremendous opportunity to the people of this country.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 4:24 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Whitespaces are the frequencies freed up as TV broadcasters relinquish analog and go digital...
>>>>>
>>>>>     cell: +254715964281
>>>>> #*****TRON LIVES*****#
>>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 5, 2013 11:58 PM, "Mark Mwangi" <mwangy@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Saw this piece being flogged on the interwebs and was just wondering what technology this is and why isnt it mainstream?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/microsoft-teams-with-the-government-of-kenya-and-indigo-telecom-to-deliver-low-cost-solar-powered-broadband-access-using-cutting-edge-tv-white-space-technology-189739611.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also how does the CCK fit in and what frequency do they use?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mark Mwangi
>>>>>>
>>>>>> markmwangi.me.ke
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> "Change is slow and gradual. It requires hardwork, a bit of
>>>> luck, a fair amount of self-sacrifice and a lot of patience."
>>>>
>>>> Roy.
>>>>
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