SWSPG sees opportunities for TVWS applications in Asia

The successful Singapore commercial pilots for unused TV broadcast frequency bands, also called TV White Spaces (TVWS) have encouraged members of the Singapore White Spaces Pilot Group (SWSPG) industry consortium to see opportunities in different fields. 

Source: SWSPG website.

SWSPG members have expanded their TVWS projects across Asia, including to the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Bhutan, Vietnam, Japan and mainland China. In the Philippines, SWSPG members Power Automation (supported by A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research), Microsoft, and Terrabit Networks supported the Department of Science and Technology to spearhead the use of TVWS for disaster relief in Tacloban and Bohol, where TVWS radios were rapidly deployed within days to provide crucial communications needs to rescue workers following the Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan. Additionally, TVWS was used to provide free Internet connectivity for hundreds of schools and government offices, covering more than 1,000 sq. km. 

In Bhutan, TVWS was used to connect a remote health unit in the village of Tang to the Bumthang Hospital. 

Representing the SWSPG, Jeffrey Yan, Director of Technology Policy, Microsoft, said: “IDA’s leadership in regulatory foresight and innovation has made Singapore a fertile ground for technology innovation and early adoption. It encouraged industry players to come together to build capacity in Singapore, for Singapore, and then radiate the influence and benefits to neighbouring countries and across the region, as demonstrated by the SWSPG members’ undertakings. Now IDA’s agility in enacting a definite regulatory framework for unlicensed access to TVWS will further encourage industry to invest and innovate, creating greenfield opportunities for small medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups.” 

Some of the innovations and opportunities that local SMEs and startups can further explore with the license-exempt use of TVWS spectrum include TVWS components and devices design and manufacturing; application and services development; and consulting and system integration. 

SWSPG member, Charlie Khoo, Sales Director at ZDW Systems, a wireless technology startup, said: “ZDW aims to use TVWS as another good radio resource for wireless backhaul transmission. It has the advantages of better radio propagation performance due to its low frequency. Specifically, it has helped ZDW to create an innovative solution that helps cellular network operators to extend their 3G cellular network.”

Frank Hufschmid, Strategic Sales Director, Terrabit Networks, also a SWSPG member, said: “The IDA regulatory framework will go a long way for ICT companies and startups to confidently invest in fully harnessing the technology and business potential of TVWS, with Singapore strategically placed at the centre of this development. With this framework in place, businesses can accelerate their decision to adopt TVWS to enhance communications and customer experiences. This will also set a clear technology and regulatory benchmark for other nations in Asia to emulate.”

To facilitate further dialogue, SWSPG will be holding a TVWS Industry Forum: Towards Smart Nation 2025, from 2.30pm - 6pm, 19 June 2014 at the Microsoft Singapore Auditorium to provide updates and discuss future collaborations. Please contact Linh Tran at linh@trpc.biz for more information and if you are interested to attend this forum.