SDR Forum Workshop to Focus on the Use of TV White Spaces

(Business News & Technology News, 25 Apr 2008)

The controversy over the use of "TV white space" continues to gain momentum as the demand for bandwidth increases exponentially, with each side making their case for what should be done with this relatively untapped and increasingly valuable resource.

In June, keynote speakers from Google Inc. and The Association for Maximum Service Television Inc. (MSTV) will join industry leaders from IEEE 802.22, Motorola, Shared Spectrum Company, TDK, Phillips and the Institute for Infocomm Research in presenting their perspectives on this topic in a workshop hosted by the SDR Forum.

Entitled "Safely Accessing the TV White Space Spectrum - What Can We Do?", this workshop is aimed at providing a neutral venue for discussion, allowing the Forum's members and guests to understand the issues and concerns, separate the facts from the myths, and uncover areas of agreement.

"White space communications is an important issue for our members and the industry as a whole," says Lee Pucker, CEO, SDR Forum. "With members on all sides of the issue, we are uniquely positioned to offer a neutral environment that can facilitate a productive discussion and help educate all parties."

To address some of the issues with TV white space, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.K. Office of Communications (OFCOM), and the International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) have proposed the use of advanced radio technologies based on both software defined and cognitive radio capabilities. The perceived maturity of these technologies is a key element of the debate, and the workshop will allow experts at all levels of the wireless value chain, including service providers, operators, manufacturers, developers, regulatory agencies, and academia the opportunity to weigh in on this complex issue.

"We have received a great response on this workshop and will aim to close the gap on the white space debate and promote the success of these next generation radio technologies in a manner that is acceptable to all parties," adds Pucker.

The day-long workshop will be held in conjunction with SDR Forum's 59th General Meeting in Portland from June 16 to 19. Held quarterly, the meetings offer members and non-members with a forum to collaborate on the advancement of radio technologies. Planned working sessions will support commercial, public safety, avionics, and tactical radio communities.

Additional highlights include the continued advancement of an SDR Forum reports on the advancement of software-defined and cognitive radio to address the needs of the 700MHz public private partnership and a trade study on the multi-service portable radios. The Forum's Technical Committee will move forward a number of items including the specification on securing software reconfigurable communications technologies and continued work on the meta-language for mobility use cases and scenario analysis. Work will continue to address the issues in the international tactical radio (ITR) document under development by the Forum's ITR Special Interest Group and the Regulatory Committee will provide a plenary summary on defining the Forum's international regulatory agenda.

Click here for more information on the SDR Forum Workshop

Click here for more information on the SDR Forum