Nominet: Dynamic Spectrum Management

 

With the Government agenda to improve connectivity and reduce the digital divide in both rural and urban areas alike, it is now time for providers to explore alternative solutions. Utilising TV band spectrum gifted through the digital dividend enables providers to lower the cost of network deployment and connect those in hard to reach, geographically isolated areas. Nominet’s Spectrum Management Team has been working on live TVWS deployments in Scotland and Kenya to help bring connectivity to areas currently underserved.

 

 

 

Connectivity in rural areas of Britain remains an issue as the cost of infrastructure is not viable for the amount of usage. This leaves many people and premises across the UK without access to broadband or with very limited bandwidth. The people of the Isle of Arran in Scotland are part of the 8% of the population in the UK who do not have access to broadband faster than 10Mbps. The sparse housing locations and tough environmental and geographic conditions make traditional connectivity very challenging. A lack of workable broadband has hampered economic growth and innovation, making it less attractive for the younger generation to stay on the island. Together with partners Microsoft, Broadway Partners and Adaptrum, we have connected the residents of Arran with the first commercial use of wireless TV white space technology. Residents are now accessing speeds of 15Mbps, allowing them to run businesses, connect with family members across the globe and have access to modern online services. A backbone of connectivity is now opening up the island to a new a set of IoT services such as telehealth applications to help support the most vulnerable.

 

 

 

Our dynamic spectrum management solution is being used by Microsoft to deliver broadband throughout the world. Through our partnerships with Microsoft, Nominet’s TVWS databases are hosted on Microsoft Azure and enable low-cost terrestrial wireless broadband internet deployments to communities across Africa. This solution brings connectivity to large open areas where it has been traditionally difficult to deploy fixed infrastructure. The goal of empowering every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more is within reach. Paul Garnett, Director of Affordable Access Initiatives, Microsoft said: “In furtherance of these goals, Microsoft is excited to be working with Nominet on developing Microsoft Azure cloudbased TV white space databases that will enable Internet access providers across Africa to leverage unused broadcast frequencies and deliver lowcost broadband Internet access.”

 

 

 

Nominet’s spectrum management platform is a cloud-based system designed to answer the needs of national country regulators and network operators. The platform can support multiple frequency bands and regulatory frameworks including TVWS in the UK and US and DSA model rules. It will soon support CBRS, and is fully customisable for other sharing and licensing agreements. Nominet has also developed a set of sophisticated mapping, planning, and wide-scale spectrum investigation tools. What are the benefits of dynamic spectrum management?

 

• Improves efficiency of spectrum use

 

• Opens up new market opportunities

 

• Enables wireless advancements for businesses Nominet’s spectrum management empowers regulators and network operators to share this invaluable resource efficiently for TVWS, and in the future CBRS and 5G. Find out more http://www.nomient.uk/dsm