Posted: 13th Apr, 2011 By: MarkJ


The European Parliaments
Committee for Industry, Transport and Research (ITRE) has proposed several key amendments to the
EU Spectrum Policy Programme, one of which would allow lower frequency
White Space radio spectrum to be used on unlicensed terms (i.e. much like most modern home Wi-Fi networks).
At present "
White Space" spectrum tends to exist between TV channels and has the advantage of being able to travel further and more easily through walls. However, developing and releasing related technologies is likely to take a few years.
Freeing this spectrum up could
improve the performance and reach of future Wi-Fi wireless networks or may even be used to boost indoor Mobile Broadband coverage (i.e.
picocells,
femtocells and
mesh networks). The UK is already known to be looking at similar proposals.
Jérémie Zimmermann, Co-Founder of Citizen Organization La Quadrature du Net, said:
"Citizens should be thankful to the Members of the ITRE committee for their encouraging vote in favor of free and open wireless communications. This vote must now be confirmed by the rest of the Parliament, in plenary. We can be sure that the telecoms and broadcasting industries will lobby hard in order to remain in control of airwaves.
For the sake of innovation and freedom of communication, it is crucial that wireless Internet become more open, and that the Commission actually and promptly follows the opinion of the Parliament towards an inclusive spectrum policy."
It's important to point out that the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has a similar mindset to the ITRE committee and last September 2010 opened its second consultation into the use of related spectrum (
here).
Ofcom wants to launch a new range of
licence exempt wireless networks and broadband services via "
white space technology", although its consultation process will not be completed until the end of 2011.