Unleashing TV white spaces' potential to democratize ICT, reach the last mile

The use of TV white spaces, which are unassigned frequencies that have a broader reach than that of conventional Wi-Fi, could democratize broadband access in developing countries, where billions remain unconnected. The global development potential of TV white spaces and ways to better implement and utilize these networks were among the main takeaways from the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance conference held in Manila, Philippines, this month.

A global group made up of different key players from the technology, media and public sectors, the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance describes itself as a technology-neutral organization that pushes for increased access to unused radio spectrum by focusing on policy and regulatory advocacy.

In a keynote speech, Richard Thanki, a University of Southampton’s Institute of Complex Systems Simulation doctorate student who discussed his modeling exercises on broadband deployment projects that include, but are not limited to, TV white spaces, said that unused TV airwaves “hold the promise of providing connectivity to people who have so far been excluded by current high-cost connection technologies.”