IEEE publishes white spaces standard, targets rural deployments

The IEEE is looking to expand the possibility of mobile broadband services using the highly controversial “white spaces” with the publishing of the 802.22 standard, which will tap into VHF and UHF television bands to provide up to 22 megabit per second speeds and coverage up to 62 miles from a transmitter.
The specification, which is also known as wireless regional area networks, is expected to help provide mobile broadband services to under-served and un-served communities, according to IEEE.
The technical organization claims the standard will not interfere with existing television broadcast stations as it uses the pieces of spectrum in between existing spectrum used by television channels. The IEEE did note that the technology will be most useful for serving less densely populated areas where most vacant television channels can be found, hinting that perhaps there is a chance for interference in more densely populated areas.
The IEEE said the 802.22 standard “incorporates advanced cognitive radio capabilities including dynamic spectrum access, incumbent database access, accurate geolocation techniques, spectrum sensing, regulatory domain dependent policies, spectrum etiquette and coexistence for optimal use of the available spectrum.”
The white spaces issue has been a long-running game in the mobile space with television broadcasters claiming such services would interfere with their channels, while technology firms have said advances in radio technology would allow for the use of those spectrum blocks to provide mobile broadband services without interference.