Global partnership to develop white space radio for wireless Internet service providers
12 October 2011
Carlson and Neul say they will jointly develop and market a new white space radio networking system that will bring affordable broadband to millions of under-served customers around the world. This marks the beginning of a worldwide partnership between these TV white space pioneers to work closely with wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) and deliver volume shipments of the new system before the end of 2011, with samples and development equipment available before then.
The Neul/Carlson system gives WISPs access to more than 100MHz of high quality white space radio spectrum in the UHF band. The outstanding propagation characteristics of UHF signals mean that line of sight is not always needed to the subscriber’s home. As a result WISPs using the new system can deliver faster, more reliable service to more customers with the same network infrastructure, driving revenue and profit for WISPs.
“Broadband is a global necessity in today’s world, and we see this partnership as a leap forward for rural broadband worldwide,” said Carlson CEO James Carlson. “This is a groundbreaking technology that uses vacated TV channels (TV white spaces) for broadband. It is especially effective in sparsely populated areas and rugged terrain, giving rural communities real-time access to the business opportunities and educational resources the internet has to offer.”
“Millions of people around the world do not currently have access to decent broadband at affordable prices. In today’s world this is not acceptable,“ said Luke D’Arcy, VP Marketing at Neul. “Pioneering WISPs are already helping many people to get on-line. White space radio technology will allow them to serve even more customers, thanks to its long range and non line of sight capabilities. Neul and Carlson’s new product is the first white space radio system designed specifically for WISPs, making the new spectrum easy to use, and allowing WISPs to grow their businesses profitably.”
Both companies have been at the forefront of the white space radio revolution with active trials in the US and the UK. Carlson was one of the first to implement successful TV white space-based broadband systems by virtue of experimental licenses, most notably on Native American reservations. Neul plays an active role in the Cambridge White Spaces Consortium, and has several wireless data trials currently underway in the UK.
Carlson and Neul plan to combine their strengths to deliver a high-bandwidth product that offers unrivalled range and signal penetration. This revolutionary product is designed for use in the US, UK and beyond. With approval from both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Ofcom (the UK’s spectrum regulatory entity), the companies plan to introduce the product to the open market by year’s end.