TV frequencies may
deliver ‘super Wi-Fi’ in the future
What if you could
download songs or transfer movies at any given location with the help of a
‘super Wi-Fi’ network that reached your smartphone via TV frequencies?
German scientists at
the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have proposed to make some TV
frequencies available free of cost and use them to extend existing wireless
networks (Wi-Fi) instead of using the frequencies for mobile communications.
The low-range TV
frequencies are highly suited for penetrating obstacles such as walls.
The researchers plan
to extend the frequencies for free communication to include lower ranges and
increased transmission power.
By automatically
adapting transmission power to prevent interference, such wireless local area
network (WLAN) networks might even reach communication partners at a distance
of several kilometres.
The networks could be
made available to passersby on neighbouring streets for transferring data to
and from their smartphones, the authors noted.
“With our approach,
individuals, institutions and companies would be far less dependent on
expensive mobile communications networks in conducting their digital
communication. This would also be of great economic benefit,” said lead
researcher Arnd Weber from KIT’ Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems
Analysis (ITAS).
According to Weber, a
broad debate about the approach is required because governments could also use
the frequencies to extend the range of state-owned TV channels or auction them
to mobile telephony providers at high prices.
The study appeared in
the journal Telecommunications Policy.