Beyond White Spaces

Back in 1999 I wrote a column that envisioned the uses of digital wireless in the home. I compared two nascent, much-touted wireless protocols, Bluetooth and HomeRF. I completely, totally, slippery-dash missed Wi-Fi. There had been a public 802.11 spec since 1997. The first 802.11b devices, which made Wi-Fi popular, burst onto the scene in early 2000, just a few short months after my clueless insights. Today HomeRF is forgotten, Bluetooth is for ugly ear jewelry and Wi-Fi rulz... more»

White Spaces News… Interesting First Step

When the U.S. Digital Television Transition (DTV) transition happens in Feb. 2009, channels 2 through 51 will remain allocated for television transmission. Few of the nation's television markets actually use 49 channels. Indeed, most use less than half of that number... Today, with Congress in recess, leaving less room for last-minute-Lucy-with-the-football lobbying gambits, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) appears to be poised to release a report saying the white spaces can be used without necessarily causing interference to existing broadcasts. There are still many questions to be answered... more»

Wireless at the Speed of Fiber: New Millimeter-Wave Technology Sends Data at 10 Gigabits Per Second

Researchers at Battellea, a research and development firm in Columbus, OH, have succeeded in using off-the-shelf optical telecommunication components to create a faster millimeter-wave device sending data at 10 gigabits per second. Current Wi-Fi and cellular networks operate on frequencies of 2.4 to 5.0 gigahertz. oday there are no commercial wireless systems available that could match the speed of optical fiber capable of carrying tens of gigabits per second. more»

Telcos, IT Companies Start $1B Promotion for Mobile Broadband as Alternative to Wi-Fi and WiMax

Some of the world's largest IT and mobile companies have teamed up to create a new category of always-connected 'Mobile Broadband' devices, delivering an alternative to WiFi. According to reports, in the first phase of this initiative lead by GSM Association (GSMA), mobile operators, PC manufacturers and chipset providers will collaborate to pre-install Mobile Broadband into a range of notebook PCs that will be ready to switch on and surf straight out of the box in 91 countries. more»

FCC Moving Ahead with Airwave Auction Despite Credit Crisis

U.S. Federal regulators are moving forward with plans to put two valuable chunks of airwaves up for sale, despite market turmoil that could make it difficult for potential bidders to raise necessary financing, report the Wall Street Journal today. "Today, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to release draft rules for the re-auction of airwaves that would be used to create networks that allow fire, police and other emergency services to communicate more effectively. The idea, pushed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, faltered earlier this year when the first effort to sell airwaves attracted no winning bids. Potential bidders were concerned about onerous conditions required of the winner. This time, the FCC is considering relaxing some of those conditions, including cutting the minimum bid to $750 million from $1.3 billion." more»

Google's Larry Page Says Whitespace Tests Were Rigged

Google's Co-Founder Larry Page said today that recent tests conducted by the FCC that determined mobile devices in the so-called "white space" spectrum can cause interference with microphones and TV stations were rigged and shouldn't serve as the basis for government policy. Speaking at a Wireless Innovation Alliance event hosted by the New America Foundation here, Page said "I'm telling you the test was rigged" and urged the FCC to act on a proposal to free up the spectrum, slices of the airwaves set aside so that broadcast stations don't interfere with each other. more»

Google, T-Mobile Launch Android-Powered G1 Mobile Phone

Google Inc. and T-Mobile USA today unveiled the highly anticipated smart-phone G1, the first in the industry to be based on Android, Google's operating system for mobile phones. Currently available for T-Mobile customers only, the T-Mobile G1 combines full touch-screen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a mobile Web experience that includes popular Google services such as Google Maps Street View, Gmail, YouTube and others. The T-Mobile G1 is also the first phone to provide access to Android Market, where customers can find and download unique applications to expand and personalize their phone to fit their lifestyle. more»

India Considers Making Open WiFi Illegal in Terrorist Bombing Aftermath

In response to recent terrorist bombings in India where security officials believe the bombers made use of open wireless (WiFi) connections to communicate, the government is examining the possibility of making unsecured WiFi connections illegal. According to the Economic Times, sources have also said the "new norms may put the onus of educating consumers on telcos and ISPs." Further more "ISPs will also be asked to ensure that customers access the internet over a WiFi connection only through a password." more»

Scientists in Italy Set Wireless Network Speed Record

A team of Scientists in Pisa, Italy are reported to have set a new world record in wireless data transmission speed. Italian researchers from Sant'Anna University along with the Japanese Waseda University and the National Institute of Information and communication technology in Tokyo, for the "first time in the history of telecommunications" achieved throughput speeds of above 1.2 Terabits per second. Previous record, set in Korea, had been160 Gigabits per second. more»

Interactive Deployment Database of Global WiMAX Deployments Released

The WiMAX Forum has released an Interactive Deployment Database, providing a resource of more than 300 WiMAX deployments across the world. Available for public use, this tool includes detailed information on each of the operators, stage and type of deployment, as well as spectrum utilized. The database is planned to be updated quarterly with the latest information. more»

Aircell vs. VoIP

Last week American Airlines launched their Aircell wireless Internet access on a limited number of flights. It didn't take long before a few folks tried to make voice and video calls (in violation of Aircell's terms-of-service according to their PR folks), and it didn't take long before someone figured a way around their voice/video blocking efforts. more»

More Airlines Signing Up for Aircell's Wi-Fi Service

Aircell, the company that provides the new Gogo Internet service on some American Airlines flights, is reported to be signing another airline to its service. Aircell management expects there will be some 2,000 commercial airplanes offering Gogo by the end of next year... "American Airlines has installed Gogo on 15 airplanes for flights between New York and Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco, and Delta says it'll have Gogo available across its domestic fleet of 330 commercial jets within a year. Delta is expected to expand that service to Northwest Airlines flights if the merger of those two companies goes through as planned..." more»

FCC Banning Wireless Devices that Interfere with White Spaces Spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a ban on some wireless microphones and other low-powered devices that operate in the 700-MHz band after the digital TV transition in February, next year. This is part of an attempt to clear any potential interference with the "white spaces" spectrum which will be fully available for "public safety as well as commercial wireless services". more»

Why Broadband Competition Is As Good As It Gets, Explains Telecom Analyst

Broadband competition in the US is as good as it gets in the foreseeable future and will potentially decrease according to telecom and tech regulatory analyst, Blair Levin. "There's not that much left to be disruptive," Levin said. "White spaces could be in rural areas, and a little bit in broadband, but I don't think so. Other things that people are looking to be disruptive I don't think will happen." more»

Airline Mobile Broadband Service: Cell Towers or Satellite Systems?

American Airlines, using Aircell Gogo for the in-flight mobile broadband service launched yesterday on flights between New York and San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami, and Delta will also rollout Gogo across its domestic flights within about a year. Airlines are starting to offer Internet access, but are falling into one of two camps: airplane antennas that beam down to cell towers, or beam up to satellites. Several airlines are lining up behind service provider Aircell, which has built its own cellular network, erecting towers across the United States, following the win of a coveted FCC frequency license in 2006. more»