[kictanet] Use of TV white space by Indigo and Microsoft

Thu Feb 7 07:06:17 EAT 2013

It's great to see Malcom Brew (formerly of Bushnet - one of the first ISPs
in East Africa with their base in Uganda) "back in the game" as "Chief
Fundi" of Indigo Telecom - who are implementing partners for the Mawingu
project.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p7gv4fn3h7fknu3/Mawingu_Microsoft_Master-preview.mov

I love the way they talk about a "waterfall of knowledge" being made
available to rural communities via the 4Afrika initiative.

Brian

On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 6:18 PM, Song, Stephen <stephen.song at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> 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 6 February 2013 03:49, Henry Maina <henry at article19.org> wrote:
>
>> This is great work and thinking. But we need a clear frequency management
>> plan. Such a plan will make current groups holding on some frequencies to
>> understand how they are selfish and blocking sustainable development of all
>> regions of the country.
>>
>> HENRY O. MAINA
>> DIRECTOR
>> ARTICLE 19 KENYA/EASTERN AFRICA
>> P O BOX 2653,00100
>> NAIROBI
>> TEL:+254 (20) 3862230/2
>> FAX:+254 (20) 3862231
>> EMAIL: henry at article19.org
>>
>> ________________________________________
>> From: kictanet [kictanet-bounces+henry=article19.org at lists.kictanet.or.ke]
>> on behalf of Mark Mwangi [mwangy at gmail.com]
>> Sent: 06 February 2013 10:24 AM
>> To: Henry Maina
>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Use of TV white space by Indigo and Microsoft
>>
>> Thank you for your responses. At least the government is onboard. I
>> thought LTE was also to use the same freed up spectrum or there are enough
>> frequencies to accomodate both?
>> If better utilisation of the frequencies is the goal then this switching
>> off fiasco needs to be sorted out soon. I have a feeling we are loosing
>> more than we are gaining by stifling progress.
>>
>> On Wednesday, 6 February 2013, wrote:
>> Mark,
>> We are working on a pilot project with the regulator's knowledge.  Once
>> the technology is mature, then it can be commercialized.  It is the
>> Ministry that sought for the approval from CCK after signing an MOU with
>> Microsoft and Indigo to try in remote parts of this country.  The
>> technology promises cheaper internet if successiful.  It is also being
>> tested in the UK under similar arrangements.
>>
>>
>> Ndemo.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Came across this and in light of recent happenings I am curious to know
>> > the
>> > regulators opinion on this and what technology these guys are actually
>> > using.
>> >
>> >
>> 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.html
>> >
>> > Why isn't using white space (which I assume is intentionally unallocated
>> > spectrum) mainstream?
>> >
>> > Am I missing something?
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Regards,
>> >
>> > Mark Mwangi
>> >
>> > markmwangi.me.ke<http://markmwangi.me.ke>
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Mark Mwangi
>>
>> markmwangi.me.ke<http://markmwangi.me.ke>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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>
>
>
> --
> Steve Song
> +1 902 529 0046
> +27 83 482 2088 (SMS only)
> http://manypossibilities.net
> http://villagetelco.org
>
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
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