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.<br>
<br><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/p7gv4fn3h7fknu3/Mawingu_Microsoft_Master-preview.mov">https://www.dropbox.com/s/p7gv4fn3h7fknu3/Mawingu_Microsoft_Master-preview.mov</a><br><br>I love the way they talk about a "waterfall of knowledge" being made available to rural communities via the 4Afrika initiative.<br>
<br>Brian<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 6:18 PM, Song, Stephen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:stephen.song@gmail.com" target="_blank">stephen.song@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>Hi all,</div><div><br></div>A few notes on TV White Spaces spectrum.<div><br></div><div>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.</div>
<div><br></div><div>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.</div>
<div><br></div><div>What is exciting about this technology? </div><div><br></div><div>1) No spectrum license required or at least a very nominal one. This means new opportunities for small entrepreneurs to provide alternative access.</div>
<div>2) Great propagation. A typical TV White Spaces link can go 10km without any effort and is not obstructed by trees, buildings, etc.</div><div>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.</div>
<div>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.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Does this interfere with new mobile frequencies? No. Here's how it breaks down.</div><div><br></div><div>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.</div>
<div><br></div><div>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.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Kudos to Mr. Ndemo for pushing this forward. We held a workshop on TV White Spaces in late 2011 (<a href="http://www.openspectrum.org.za/tvwss-africa-workshop/" target="_blank">http://www.openspectrum.org.za/tvwss-africa-workshop/</a>) to which the CCK were invited and attended but which was received with a high degree of scepticism.</div>
<div><br></div><div>TV White Spaces are finally gaining traction however. Google is sponsoring a pilot in South Africa (<a href="http://www.tenet.ac.za/about-us/the-cape-town-tv-white-spaces-trial/" target="_blank">http://www.tenet.ac.za/about-us/the-cape-town-tv-white-spaces-trial/</a>) 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.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Regards... Steve Song</div><div><br></div><div>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 (<a href="https://opendata.go.ke" target="_blank">https://opendata.go.ke</a>). 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. :-)</div>
<div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div class="h5">On 6 February 2013 03:49, Henry Maina <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:henry@article19.org" target="_blank">henry@article19.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="h5">
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.<br>
<br>
HENRY O. MAINA<br>
DIRECTOR<br>
ARTICLE 19 KENYA/EASTERN AFRICA<br>
P O BOX 2653,00100<br>
NAIROBI<br>
TEL:+254 (20) 3862230/2<br>
FAX:<a href="tel:%2B254%20%2820%29%203862231" value="+254203862231" target="_blank">+254 (20) 3862231</a><br>
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<br>
________________________________________<br>
From: kictanet [kictanet-bounces+henry=<a href="mailto:article19.org@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">article19.org@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>] on behalf of Mark Mwangi [<a href="mailto:mwangy@gmail.com" target="_blank">mwangy@gmail.com</a>]<br>
Sent: 06 February 2013 10:24 AM<br>
To: Henry Maina<br>
<div>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
</div>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Use of TV white space by Indigo and Microsoft<br>
<div><br>
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?<br>
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.<br>
<br>
On Wednesday, 6 February 2013, wrote:<br>
Mark,<br>
We are working on a pilot project with the regulator's knowledge. Once<br>
the technology is mature, then it can be commercialized. It is the<br>
Ministry that sought for the approval from CCK after signing an MOU with<br>
Microsoft and Indigo to try in remote parts of this country. The<br>
technology promises cheaper internet if successiful. It is also being<br>
tested in the UK under similar arrangements.<br>
<br>
<br>
Ndemo.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
> Came across this and in light of recent happenings I am curious to know<br>
> the<br>
> regulators opinion on this and what technology these guys are actually<br>
> using.<br>
><br>
> <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a><br>
><br>
> Why isn't using white space (which I assume is intentionally unallocated<br>
> spectrum) mainstream?<br>
><br>
> Am I missing something?<br>
><br>
><br>
> --<br>
> Regards,<br>
><br>
> Mark Mwangi<br>
><br>
</div>> <a href="http://markmwangi.me.ke" target="_blank">markmwangi.me.ke</a><<a href="http://markmwangi.me.ke" target="_blank">http://markmwangi.me.ke</a>><br>
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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.<br>
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