Worldwide Commercial Deployments, Pilots, and Trials
Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Limited
21 St Thomas Street
Bristol BS1 6JS
United Kingdom
3855 SW 153rd Drive
Beaverton, OR 97003
United States
Website: http://www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org
Email: admin@dynamicspectrumalliance.org
Company no. 8736143 (England & Wales)
Global Map of Worldwide Commercial Deployments, Pilots, and Trials
About the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance
The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance is a global organization advocating for laws and regulations that will lead to
more efficient and effective spectrum utilization. The DSAs membership spans multinationals, small- and
medium-sized enterprises, and academic, research, and other organizations from around the world, all
working to create innovative solutions that will increase the amount of available spectrum to the benefit of
consumers and businesses alike. Visit http://www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org/.
For more information and press regarding these Commercial Deployments, Pilots, and Trials please visit
the DSA website here: http://www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org/pilots.html.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at admin@dynamicspectrumalliance.org.
FOLLOW US:
Page 2 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Table of Contents
Asia-Pacific ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4
Bhutan TVWS trial connects remote health unit ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Philippines TVWS Pilot improves fisher folk registrations ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Long-distance broadband networking using TV white space for disaster scenarios-------------------------------------------------------- 5
TVWS in disaster response ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
TVWS field trial for rural aboriginal Fu-Hsing Township ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Singapore commercial TVWS pilots using dynamic spectrum management ----------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Africa ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Worlds largest TV white space pilot ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Accra TVWS pilot network is the first of its kind in West Africa --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Koforidua Polytechnic TVWS trial ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
University of Limpopo TVWS trial ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Malawi TV white spaces pilot ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Dar es Salaam TVWS trial --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Cape Town TV white spaces trial -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
Kenya Mawingu TVWS pilot -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
Europe---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
London Zoo TVWS trial to save the animals ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
NICT tests combined LTE and 802.11af device communicating with TVWS database at Ofcom white space pilot ---------------- 11
Glasgow white spaces ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
Rural Scotland TVWS ferry services -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
White space rural broadband trial on the Isle of Bute --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
Cambridge white spaces trial ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
North America ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14
Washington County Maine TVWS Deployment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14
Louisa Water Tower TVWS deployment demonstrates resilience of TVWS-based WiFi ------------------------------------------------- 14
Delaware State Library Pilot -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
Humboldt County pilot -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
Delta County, CO pilot ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
Skokie, IL pilot ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
Kansas State pilot ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
Pascagoula, MS pilot --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
New Hampshire State pilot ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
Using TVWS to connect vessels in Pittsburgh waterway -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
West Virginia University deployment -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------17
The great outdoors trial ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------17
Wilmington Smart City deployment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18
South America ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19
Plan Ceibal remote schools pilot in Uruguay --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19
Page 3 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Asia-Pacific
Tang Valley, Bumthang, Bhutan
February 2014 Present
Bhutan TVWS trial connects remote health unit
Microsoft partnered with Terabit, Bhutan Telecom and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to connect a
remote health unit in the Bhutanese village of Tang to Bumthang Hospital. The TV White Space link,
established in February 2014, connects the villagers to quality healthcare and ensures treatment is
received quickly and cost effectively.
Tang was previously underserved by the internet due to its remote and mountainous terrain, but one of
the TV White Space Technology capabilities (thanks to the physics of TV spectrum) is the ability to provide
point-to-multipoint broadband connectivity over long distances. The TV White Space link enables villagers
to book appointments and receive medical advice without the long journey into the city.
The pilot is being used by ADB for designing an ICT Development loan instrument to leverage the cost
effectiveness of TV White Space technology.
The Island of Bohol, Philippines
July 2013 Present
Philippines TVWS Pilot improves fisher folk registrations
Microsoft, the Philippines Department of Science and Technologys Information and Communication
Technology Office (DOST-ICT Office), Department of Agricultures Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (DA-BFAR), and the U.S. Embassy Manilas United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) have a partnership to explore delivering broadband connectivity and facilitate mobile fisher folk
registration to remote areas in the municipalities of Talibon, Trinidad, Bien Unido, Ubay and Carlos P
Garcia.
A TVWS base station was set up at a transmission tower at DOTC Compound at Tubigon, Bohol to bring
internet access to sparsely located pockets of population all around the island who currently have slow or
non-existent network connectivity. This is a simplified base station setup whereby the main
communication path is to the surrounding areas within 3 7km radius of the base station. For this
implementation, the TVWS clients are set at local schools or community areas within the villages.
The trial also enables local government agencies to distribute IDs, certificates and licenses to fishermen
whilst out in remote locations and collate an online database. Police will be able to access the central
database to monitor compliance and cross reference individuals. The project strengthens the
Governments economic assistance to the fishing sector, with a focus on sustainable practices that
produce more fish, feed more people, and generate more jobs.
The pilot will also connect local institutions such clinics and public schools, with the network considered
for further expansion.
Page 4 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
November December 2013
Long-distance broadband networking using TV white space for
disaster scenarios
This project confirmed long-range broadband wireless communications using IEEE 802.22 and IEEE
802.11af systems in Tono City, Iwate, Japan. The key assumption of the pilot is that white space
communication systems would be utilized in order to provide Internet access where commercial network
services were damaged by an earthquake disaster. Key achievements of the project include:
The IEEE 802.22 system established a link over 12.7 km. Throughput was 5.2 Mbps downstream and 4.5
Mbps upstream.
The original specifications of IEEE 802.22 were modified to operate using non-contiguous multiple
channels, i.e. channel aggregation. With two channels, throughput was 15.5 Mbps downstream and 9.0
Mbps upstream over 6.3 km.
A multi-hop network was constructed using IEEE 802.22 and IEEE 802.11af systems. The IEEE 802.22 and
IEEE 802.11af systems provided for backbone links and for expansion of service area, respectively.
Conventional wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b/g/n in 2.4 GHz) provided for the last hundred metres to the IEEE
802.11af system so that off-the-shelf end user WiFi devices can connect to the Internet via the TV white
space-based wireless links.
This project was carried out by NICT and Hitachi Kokusai Electric under R&D contracts with the Ministry
of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan.
Tacloban, Philippines
November 2013
TVWS in disaster response
On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded, struck the
Philippines killing at least 6,268 people and affecting approximately 11 million more. Standard
communication systems failed and extreme damage to infrastructure throughout the region posed
greater hazard to both the residents and relief efforts. The Department of Science & Technologys (DOST)
ICT Office built a TV White Spaces (TVWS)-based network to provide an immediate on-the-ground
communications network for disaster relief respondents and victims of the disaster. The network was able
to be set up, backhauled via VSAT, and switched on in a matter of hours. It provided a network
immediately for two-way voice and data wireless communications for anyone with a functioning end user
devices (handsets, laptops, tablets, etc.). The network was setup at less than 1/10th the cost of other
alternative viable solutions. It was also rapidly set up and deployed, requiring minimal technical expertise,
system integration or support, and provided ongoing communication throughout the later disaster relief
efforts.
Page 5 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Fu-Hsing Township, Taiwan
September 2013 Present
TVWS field trial for rural aboriginal Fu-Hsing Township
Fu-Hsing Township is an aboriginal rural township located in eastern Taoyuan County, Taiwan. Famous for
scenic spots including the Sanmin Bat Cave, Jiaobanshan Park and more, this is an eco-system tourism
spot where the local aboriginal population co-exists in the highlands. Based on the little existence of
network connectivity within the highlands, Power Automation (PA) is working closely with the Institute
for Infocomm Research (I2R) and local research partners to provide a greater and wider network
infrastructure to the aboriginal township using TV White Space (TVWS). TVWS creates a wireless network
whose signal can cover greater distances than traditional networks and travel through the forested
terrain. For a start, a TVWS base station was set up at the roof top of the Fu-Hsing Township Office
building. This is a simplified base station setup whereby the main communication path will be to
surrounding areas within 3 10km radius of the base station.
Singapore Island Country Club, National University of
Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, and Other Sites
September 2012 Present
Singapore commercial TVWS pilots using dynamic spectrum
management
The first wave of the Singapore White Spaces Pilot Groups (SWSPG) TV White Space (TVWS) pilot projects
were announced in September of 2012 to establish TVWS projects that demonstrates the variety of
commercial services that could be deployed using White Spaces technology in an environment where
other traditional wireless deployment would be difficult to achieve. The sites include the National
University of Singapore, Singapore Island Country Club and the Changi district, around the airport. SWSPG
was established in April 2012 with four founding members (I2R, Microsoft, StarHub, and Neul) and with
support from Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), Singapore. The organizations objective is to deploy
White Spaces technology pilots in Singapore, thereby accelerating the adoption of White Spaces
technologies in Singapore, the Asia Pacific region, and globally.
Additionally, StarHub and InterDigital performed an evaluation and trial of Wi-Fi over dynamically
managed unlicensed spectrum. The DSM Wi-Fi platforms were used to evaluate the suitability of Wi-Fi
and UHF (TV White Space) spectrum for both indoor and outdoor applications. Video surveillance and
small cell backhaul were some of the key applications tested along with general throughput, latency and
coverage. Testing showed good overall performance with minimal latency and TCP/IP speeds up to 20
Mbps over a 40 meter indoor NLOS distance.
Page 6 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Africa
Oshana, Ohangwena, and Omusati, Namibia
August 2014 Present
Worlds largest TV white space pilot
MyDigitalBridge Foundation in partnership with Microsoft and Adaptrum, with support from the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)-Namibia, has
successfully trialled the Namibian TV White Spaces (TVWS) pilot project. The intention is to provide a
blueprint of broadband internet connectivity countrywide. Called Citizen Connect, the pilot consists of a
network deployed over a 62km x 152km (9,424 km) area covering three regional councils: Oshana,
Ohangwena, and Omusati, and connecting 28 schools in northern Namibia. This makes it the biggest TVWS
project of its kind in terms of area coverage.
This pilot project came at the right time for us to answer to the challenges of internet access, or the lack
thereof, to all our citizens. This pilot project is ambitious by any standard and can only be realised with
the support and contributions from a large stakeholder community. I call on all stakeholders to continue
to collaborate in an effort to ensure that we afford all Namibians the right of internet access for purposes
of education, health and government services, says Hon. Dr. Moses Amweelo, the Chairman of the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on ICT.
Accra, Ghana
March 2014 Present
Accra TVWS pilot network is the first of its kind in West Africa
In March 2014, SpectraLink Wireless, under authorization from the Government of Ghanas National
Communications Authority (NCA), and in collaboration with the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of
Technology (MEST) deployed a pilot network to offer free wireless broadband access for its community of
Entrepreneurs in Training.
The successful network deployment of the companys leading edge TV white space technology is the first
of its kind in West Africa and has proven the viability of SpectraLinks platform in delivering high speed
Internet connectivity through this medium. The purpose of the pilot with MEST has been to test the
efficiency of using TV white spaces for Internet radio networks, in an urban environment that presents
multiple sources of interference. The network has been successfully tested on channels adjacent to active
television channels, over a 10 km link, with no interference observed.
Page 7 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Koforidua, Ghana
2013 Present
Koforidua Polytechnic TVWS trial
SpectraLink Wireless, in collaboration with Microsoft and Facebook, are connecting Koforidua Polytechnic
and other universities in Ghana to wireless broadband and cloud-based services through TV white space
technology. The pilot is supported by Microsofts 4Afrika Initiative which aims to improve the regions
competitive positioning by facilitating technology access, while ensuring students have reliable Internet
access.
The networks use TV white space-enabled radios from 6Harmonics to connect campus buildings, as well
as hostels where students live, to ensure pupils have access to fast wireless broadband and cloud-based
services, such as Office 365. The project is operating under the first TV white space pilot license issued by
the Ghana National Communications Authority.
The TV White Space networks enable greater internet penetration, providing more bandwidth for less
money, and this allows students to take university courses online and use bandwidth intensive
applications such as video conferencing.
Polokwane, South Africa
July 2013 Present
University of Limpopo TVWS trial
In 2013 Microsoft, 6Harmonics and The Meraka Institute, who research and develop geo-location
spectrum databases, partnered with the University of Limpopo in South Africa to provide the institution
and five schools in an 8km radius with internet access.
Hundreds of students benefit from TV White Space network which allowed ICT to be included in the
syllabus for the very first time. The project enables access to vast online resources and allows quality
education through technology which improves employment opportunities for students.
The cost of broadband remains an obstacle to internet access in rural South Africa, but by reducing the
cost of broadband access millions of South Africans could get online. This creates new opportunities for
education, health care, commerce and the delivery of government services across the country.
It is hoped the TV White Space pilot will extend to encompass disadvantaged schools throughout South
Africa and deliver interactive based learning to progressively more students. The focus of the pilot will be
to prove that TV white spaces can be used to meet the South African Governments goals of providing
low-cost access for a majority of South Africans by 2020
Page 8 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Zomba, Malawi
July 2013 Present
Malawi TV white spaces pilot
The University of Malawi, in partnership with the regulator, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority
(MACRA), and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, launched a white-spaces pilot
project in the city of Zomba, in southern Malawi. The pilot, which got underway in September 2013, has
connected a number of different institutions including a school, a hospital, an airport and a research
facility.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
May 2013 Present
Dar es Salaam TVWS trial
UhuruOne and Microsoft are partnering with the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology
(COSTECH) to supply 74,000 students with affordable wireless broadband access, devices, and cloudbased services.
The Broadband4Wote project is designed to assess the commercial feasibility of wireless broadband using
TV White Space technology. The Open University of Tanzania, Institute of Finance Management, College
of Business Education and Dar Es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication are all connected
to the network which focuses on TV White Space capabilities in urban settings.
The Tanzanian deployment will also hire a team of students to support the network infrastructure,
devices, and software, giving students the opportunity to learn valuable technical skills and gain IT
qualifications.
The ongoing pilot hopes to improve students education through access to vast online resources and boost
employment opportunities through the development of technical expertise.
Page 9 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Cape Town, South Africa
March 2013 September 2013
Cape Town TV white spaces trial
In 2011, several partners hosted a workshop in Johannesburg on TV White Spaces, where the regulator,
the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), lent support for a white space trial
in South Africa. This led to Google partnering with the CSIR Meraka Institute, Tertiary Education and
Research Network of South Africa, e-Schools Network (TENET), the Wireless Access Providers Association
(WAPA), Comsol Wireless Solutions, Carlson Wireless, and Neul to take up the challenge. The six-month
trial launched in Cape Town March 2013. The TVWS network consisted of multiple base stations located
at Stellenbosch Universitys Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in Tygerburg, Cape Town, which
delivered broadband Internet service to ten schools within a 10 kilometer radius. Each school received
dedicated 2.5 Mbps service with failover to ADSL in order to prevent downtime during school hours. To
prevent interference with other channels, the network used Googles spectrum database to determine
white space availability. At the end of the six-month period, the trial had successfully showed that
broadband can be offered over white spaces without interfering with licensed spectrum holders.
Nanyuki, Kenya
February 2013 Present
Kenya Mawingu TVWS pilot
Microsoft Corp., in collaboration with the Government of Kenya (Ministry of Information and
Communications), Mawingu Networks (previously Indigo Telecom), and Jamii Telecom Limited, and with
support from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), are conducting a pilot project delivering lowcost wireless broadband access to previously unserved schools, healthcare clinics, government offices,
and some small businesses near Nanyuki, Kenya. Launched in 2013, the network utilizes Adaptrum and
6Harmonics TV white spaces and solar-powered base stations to deliver broadband access and create new
opportunities for commerce, education, healthcare and delivery of government services. To maximize
coverage and bandwidth, while keeping costs to a minimum, the project is using several complementary
spectrum bands available to license-exempt devices, including 13 GHz, 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and TV white
spaces band spectrum. The Mawingu project has successfully demonstrated the technical viability of this
model of delivery, with interference free point to multi-point coverage of up to 14 kilometers from TV
white spaces base stations operating at only 2.5 Watts power (EIRP measurement). The TV white space
base stations have achieved speeds of up to 16 Mbps on a single 8 MHz TV channel at distances of up to
14 kilometers.
Page 10 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Europe
London, United Kingdom
October 2014 Present
London Zoo TVWS trial to save the animals
Ofcom, the UKs communication regulator, teamed up with Alliance members 6Harmonics, Mediatek and
Google to launch a TV White Space trial at ZSL London Zoo, using the technology to stream daily live
footage of zoo animals to YouTube.
6Harmonics and Mediatek provided the equipment to transmit images of meerkats, otters and tortoises
from their enclosures to YouTube via spectrum temporarily licensed by Ofcom. The trial, dubbed
Whitespace for Wildlife, uses Googles spectrum database and will help ZSL London Zoo test the
technology for efforts to protect endangered animals in the wild.
Following completion of the trials, testing and policy development, Ofcom expects the UK to be the first
European country to deploy widespread TV White Space networks in 2015.
London, United Kingdom
July 2014
NICT tests combined LTE and 802.11af device communicating with
TVWS database at Ofcom white space pilot
NICT, supported by King's College London, has conducted trials within the Ofcom TV White Spaces Pilots. In
this pilot, the system for White Space Devices (WSDs) communicating with White Space Databases (WSDBs) to
obtain allowed channel/power information was tested using the evolving IETF PAWS standard, also referred to
as ETSI 301598. PAWS (Protocol to Access White Space) is the protocol to access spectrum databases. Other
aspects investigated included the performance of the WSDs, and coexistence issues.
The WSDs tested in these trials are developed by NICT. These are an LTE system (3GPP Release 8) extended to
operate in TVWS, and an IEEE 802.11af system. These WSDs satisfy the requirements of the ETSI 301598
specification, including spectrum mask characteristics. The WSDB, developed by NICT, has since been qualified
by Ofcom as meeting requirements for operation with WSDs in the UK.
The LTE system realized mobile broadband communications using TVWS frequencies, achieving a downlink
throughput of 45 Mbps in FDD mode (20MHz each for uplink and downlink, from aggregating 3 TV channels)
and 19 Mbps in TDD mode (20MHz, aggregating 3 TV channels). The IEEE 802.11af system established a 3.7km
point-to-point link using one TV channel, achieving a downlink throughput of over 2Mbps.
Also as part of the a 3-month trial at The Kings College London, Strand Campus, The European Union Joint
Research Centre (EU-JRC) completed the testing of the Carlson Wireless RuralConnect TVWS broadband
system. As part of ongoing testing by the UK Office of Communications (OfCom), the testing is designed to
qualify TVWS technology for commercial use in the U.K. Specifically, the EU-JRC trial at Kings College was
designed to test connectivity using the Carlson gear for in-building, between-building, and long-distance
scenarios. The testing was also designed to verify system communication with a TVWS Database provided by
FairSpectrum of Helsinki, Finland.
Page 11 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
April 2014 April 2015
Glasgow white spaces
Microsoft, Mediatek, 6Harmonics and Aviacomm successfully developed and trialled the worlds first
triple band WiFi transceivers as part of a wider TV White Space project at the University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow. The Glasgow White Spaces Pilot builds on the unrivalled experience of the Centre for White
Space Communications (CWSC) (University of Strathclyde), in both Scotland and Africa. The Pilot used
TVWS to fill urban broadband gaps and enable smart city applications. The tri-band Wi-Fi transceivers are
designed to locate vacant parts of the spectrum and then to refer to a constantly updated database to
find which frequencies are available and at what power.
The first phase of the project deployed radios at defined locations around the Universitys City Centre
Campus, helped by seed funding from the Scottish Government under its Demonstrating Digital
Programme and with support from Microsoft.
The CWSC is now considering how to harvest and aggregate data from distributed environmental
sensors, to feed a novel City Observatory and an Open Glasgow portal. The network was also designed
to support sensor innovation a particular strength of businesses in this part of the UK. A number of the
countries represented in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, at the end of July 2014, are
embarking on their own white space journeys. The City and CWSC looks forward to welcoming visitors
and briefing them on the Pilot.
Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom
October 2013
Rural Scotland TVWS ferry services
Currently, rural Scotland has far slower speeds than the rest of the UK. However Scotland is beginning to
use TV white space to provide internet connectivity and communications to the Orkney Ferries serving
the Orkney Islands and in the Pentland Firth. Until now, there has been no wireless broadband available
on board these ships.
Accessing the Internet from home or during the daily commute via ferry has been a challenge for residents
of the Orkney Islands. Directors Greg Whitton and Nikki Linklater of CloudNet IT Solutions are deploying
TVWS gear from Carlson Wireless to provide Internet access at ferry terminals and on the ferries
themselves to passengers while travelling. There are further plans that call for expansion network
coverage throughout these remote islands.
Page 12 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Isle of Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
June 2012 December 2013
White space rural broadband trial on the Isle of Bute
In April 2011, a six-partner consortium, with support from the UK governments Technology Strategy
Board, started work on a rural broadband trial network that would use white space radio spectrum to
provide broadband connectivity to a small rural community on the south part of the Isle of Bute, Scotland.
A key aim was to investigate and demonstrate the potential of white space spectrum for providing
broadband access to remote, difficult-to-reach rural areas in challenging terrain. The 18-month project
involved the planning and installation of white space radio links from the local telephone exchange to
eight premises in the surrounding area, as well as backhaul connectivity from the telephone exchange to
the mainland and then on to BTs IP backbone for access to the Internet.
Cambridge, United Kingdom
June 2011 April 2012
Cambridge white spaces trial
Launched in June of 2011, the Cambridge White Spaces Trial was designed to evaluate both the technical
capabilities of the technology as well as potential end user applications and scenarios. The consortium
explored and measured a range of applications, including rural wireless broadband, urban pop-up
coverage and the emerging machine-to-machine communication, and found TV White Spaces can be
successfully utilized to help satisfy the rapidly accelerating demand for wireless connectivity. The
Cambridge trial partners were: Adaptrum, Alcatel-Lucent, Arqiva, BBC, BSkyB, BT, Cambridge
Consultants, CSR, Digital TV Group, Neul, Nokia, Samsung, Spectrum Bridge, TTP, Virgin Media,
and Microsoft.
Page 13 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
North America
Washington County, Maine, USA
June 2014 Present
Washington County Maine TVWS Deployment
Working with local Wireless Internet Service Provider Axiom Technologies, Adaptrum has embarked on a
project to provide a TV White Space-based broadband service to the rural areas in Washington County,
Maine. Deploying Adaptrums ACRS 2.0 technology in June 2014, which is certified by the FCC, the current
phase comprises of 5 base sites and 40 customers across the county.
ACRS 2.0's NLOS OFDMA technology combined with superior propagation characteristics in the UHF TV
band allows reliable connectivity in the most challenging radio propagation environments in rural,
suburban and urban areas. In Washington County, the NLOS distance from the tower to the customer
premise was between 2 to 5 miles with a link speed 10 Mbps. The next phase of the project includes 600
customer sites in densely wooded and hard-to-reach areas.
Louisa County, Virginia, USA
April 2014 Present
Louisa Water Tower TVWS deployment demonstrates resilience of
TVWS-based WiFi
CVALINK Broadband of Louisa County, is the first Internet Service Provider in the U.S. to partner with
Adaptrum Inc., a California-based wireless manufacturer and leading developer of TV White Space
technology, to launch Adaptrums ACRS 2.0 technology in rural areas, bringing fast and reliable Internet
services to the county.
Adaptrum installed a base station on Louisas water tower and tested the link back to the companys
offices on Davis Highway. The equipment demonstrated an increase in range and reliability of TV White
Space when compared side-by-side with 900 MHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi-based products.
The deployment, which went live in April 2014, will enable CVALINK Broadband to serve customers in
dense wooded areas which are unreachable using traditional unlicensed services and technologies. With
the ability to penetrate through trees, TV White Space has the ability to connect more citizens than before,
bridging the digital divide in the county. Since CVALINK Broadband partnered with Adaptrum, the county
of Louisa has also committed to testing the technology at the county office building as it looks to provide
broadband Internet availability to all its residents.
Page 14 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Dover, Delaware, USA
Spring 2014
Delaware State Library Pilot
State Librarian and the University of Delaware are leading an ambitious state-wide initiative to determine
the feasibility of deploying TVWS hubs at every library facility in the state.
Humboldt County, California, USA
October 2013 Present
Humboldt County pilot
Humboldt County, CA library is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a test site for the TV
Whitespace "Super Wifi" project. This project will test the efficacy of using vacant broadcast spectrum
(the TV "whitespace") as a means of providing reliable wireless Internet access to public spaces.
Delta County, Colorado, USA
October 2013 Present
Delta County, CO pilot
The Delta County Library District has applied for and been approved to participate in a trial of Super WiFi
technology under a program sponsored by the Gigabit Libraries Network.
Skokie, Illinois, USA
October 2013 Present
Skokie, IL pilot
Skokie Public Library is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a test site for the TV Whitespace
"Super Wifi" project. This project will test the efficacy of using vacant broadcast spectrum (the TV
"whitespace") as a means of providing reliable wireless Internet access to public spaces in the Village of
Skokie.
Topeka, Kansas, USA
October 2013 Present
Kansas State pilot
The State Library of Kansas announces the establishment of the Kansas K20-Librarians Whitespace Pilot,
initiated by the Kansas City K-20 Librarians Initiative and coordinated by the State Library, under the
national Gigabit Libraries Network's Libraries Super-Wi-FI Pilot.
Page 15 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
October 2013 Present
Pascagoula, MS pilot
Libraries WhiteSpace Pilot project will examine how integrating unlicensed open wireless communication
technologies can benefit library users by combining the near universal compatibility of WiFi with the range
and penetrating capabilities of WhiteSpace devices.
Concord, New Hampshire, USA
October 2013
New Hampshire State pilot
Partnership between UNH Broadband Center of Excellence, NH State Librarian & New Hampshire
FastRoads. Endeavor aimed at providing affordable broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved
public libraries in New Hampshire.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
October 2013 Present
Using TVWS to connect vessels in Pittsburgh waterway
In Pittsburgh, the Port of Pittsburgh Commission engaged with Adaptrum as part of its ongoing
Interoperability Test Bed (ITB) Program which demonstrates and evaluates new technologies and services
aimed at enhancing inland waterway safety, transportation efficiency and environmental systems
management. This trial involves the U.S. inland waterway system, where broadband wireless services
promise marked improvements in lock and vessel safety, crew liability and overall regional economic
competitiveness.
Two Adaptrum base stations were deployed on the rooftop of the Carnegie Science Center to connect
boats on the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers in Pittsburgh. Using Adaptrums ACRS2.0
technology, the project demonstrated how TV White Space can effectively connect vessels travelling at
different speeds to enable VoIP services and video calls. The project displayed successful TV White Space
handovers when the client boats went from one TV White Space cell to another TV White Space cell,
coupled with excellent NLOS coverage, which spanned several miles on all three rivers, further highlighting
that the technology is a critical element in creating wireless waterways.
Page 16 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
July 2013 Present
West Virginia University deployment
West Virginia University is ambitious and innovative, highlighted by the fact that it is the first University
in the U.S. to use vacant broadcast TV channels to provide wireless broadband Internet services for its
staff and students. Using FCC-certified white space radios from Adaptrum, a San Jose startup that has
developed a software-defined radio that can dynamically shift channels, channel sizes, and power levels.
The TV White Space deployment went live in February 2014 and is the first of its kind in a U.S. University.
At the heart of White Spaces network is the Adaptrum base station radio, which has been placed in the
rooftop of the Engineering Sciences Building near the center of Morgantown. With it, are the
accompanying directional antennas, cabling, power supply, performance and availability monitoring
equipment, switching facility, and interconnections for back-haul through the Universitys backbone to
the Internet. There are five Adaptrum client radios, one for each PRT station, along with their own
antennas, an Ethernet connection with one or more off-the-shelf Cisco Wi-Fi access points. Despite
challenging terrains and harsh weather conditions, the entire network is transparent to end users: they
simply use Wi-Fi to create a connection for laptops, Smartphones, tablets and the like. The Adaptrum
client radio makes the necessary conversions at its end, and sends the packets over the TV band to the
base station, which then does its own conversion magic, and connects with a router into the WVU network
and through there to the Internet.
Phase 1 provided Wi-Fi backhaul to the 5 platforms of an on-campus TRAM system over a 4 mile loop
around the campus and Phase 2 connected additional sites on campus including an off-campus building,
nursery and parking lots. Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 have been completed with average NLOS link distances
between 1 to 3 miles and link speeds of 10 Mbps. Work has started on Phase 3, which will connect further
municipal areas.
La Pointe David, Gatineau Valley, Quebec, Canada
October 2012 Present
The great outdoors trial
In October 2012, 6Harmonics worked alongside the Gatineau Valley Societe d'aide au dveloppement des
collective to establish Canadas first TV White Space network.
The trial site of Pointe a David was chosen because of the significant demand for internet: the region
incorporates over 100 campsites, and the difficulties of accessing the internet due to dense vegetation.
The non-line-of sight performance capability of TV White Space technology overcomes this obstacle with
the ability to penetrate trees, buildings and rugged terrain.
The Gatineau Valley Societe d'aide au dveloppement invested $20,000 into the project in the hope the
network will be emulated across other rural regions.
Page 17 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, USA
January 2012 Present
Wilmington Smart City deployment
The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County were presented the Community Broadband Wireless
Network of the Year Award by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors
Community Broadband Awards.
Working with 6Harmonics the TV White Space network was the first of its kind in 2012 and successfully
delivered internet to remote previously hard to access areas. As well as providing broadband access to
the New Hanover County Juvenile Centre, police stations and the Youth Enrichment Zone. Public security
remains the main function of the network, which will be expanded to carry video surveillance and manage
traffic congestion.
The network is part of Wilmingtons wider, ongoing Smart City initiative to improve the standard of
living and drive the economy by creating a better communications infrastructure.
The TV White Space network has proved particularly valuable to manufacturers, and serves as a test-bed
for new radio devices.
Page 18 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015
South America
Montevideo, Uruguay
May 2014 Present
Plan Ceibal remote schools pilot in Uruguay
Microsoft and 6Harmonics partnered with Plan Ceibal to connect five remote rural schools to the internet
using TV White Space Technology.
The project, part of Plan Ceibals wider initiative to support the integration of ICT into public schools, was
the first of its kind in Uruguay and is expected to expand further to include five more schools. Microsoft
provided technical support to Plan Ceibal whilst 6Harmonics provided the base-station technology to
transmit and receive Wi-Fi signals.
For more information and press regarding these Commercial Deployments, Pilots, and Trials please visit
the DSA website here: http://www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org/pilots.html.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at admin@dynamicspectrumalliance.org.
Page 19 of 19
Last Updated: January 2015