Using TV White Space for Internet Connectivity

Without a cable antenna, do you know that Channels 1, 6, 8, and other blank or “buffer” channels are still useful?

These unused channels are called TV White Space (TVWS) and can be used to provide internet or data connectivity to far places.

”Using TVWS is a cost-effective way of providing data connectivity to far places, up to 30 kilometers away,” Roy Espiritu, Department of Science and Technology–Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) spokesperson, told the Philippines News Agency.

He explained that it’s cost-effective because it reaches far distances, without requiring cable wiring or using fiber optics.

In the Philippines, the use of TVWS was pilot-tested in Bohol in 2014. It was done through public-private partnership (PPP) among the USAID-supported ECOFISH (Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries) Project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Microsoft Philippines, and DOST-ICTO.

Basically, according to Espiritu, ECOFISH needed data connectivity to track who’s fishing where since internet connection allows online registration of fishermen. ECOFISH did this to address overfishing.

He added that BFAR decided to test it in Bohol, and in a span of nine months, six municipalities in the province were provided with internet connectivity in support of BFAR’s National Fisherfolk Registration Program. About 4,000 fisherfolk were able to register.

Microsoft, an advocate of TVWS, provided tablets and facilitated training for its use.

Espiritu said Microsoft has a TVWS database.

DOST-ICTO’s role, on the other hand, was in policy intervention since part of its program is to enable the private sector to use the broadcast TVWS.

Because of the valuable impact of this partnership, it became a recipient of the Second Annual Public-Private Partnership (P3) Impact Award.

The award, which aims to recognize outstanding PPPs that are improving the world in innovative ways, was conferred last October in New York City. Another ceremony was held locally on Friday at DOST-ICTO Building in Quezon City.

During the local ceremony, Microsoft Philippines shared it plans to roll this (project) out in other provinces.

DOST Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre, on the other hand, shared DOST-ICTO got many inquiries from other government agencies regarding the use of TVWS. He also cited that the project will be extended for another five years.

”We plan to eventually adopt the TVWS as an alternative to connectivity,” Casambre said, adding that PPP demonstrates what working together can really do.

Meanwhile, Casambre said there are pilot studies currently being done in Cavite and Bulacan.

He added that the province of Cavite launched this week the “Lingkod Kabitenyo” wi-fi project, which has provided free wi-fi access to schools and households in 120 places in Cavite.

Espiritu also admitted that connectivity using TVWS is slower compared to the one using fiber optic.

”We target to use TVWS in places where there isn’t any connectivity,” he said. (PNA) SCS/MCCA