Television-Band White Spaces: Analysis & Forecasts
Summary
TV Band White Spaces are the unused TV channels in each geographic area. The FCC set-aside almost fifty TV channels, but not a single city comes even close to using them all. That means there is unused TV spectrum in each locality that could be used for other purposes including (1) wireless Internet service, (2) wireless local area networks, and (3) hot spots for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. The spectrum could be used without taking anything away from TV stations.
This report includes a five-year quantitative market forecast, as well as future business opportunities for TV Band White Spaces.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
1.0 Accelerating Demand for Mobile Bandwidth
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The Impact of Metered Rates
1.3 Metcalfe‘s Law Augmented
1.4 Conclusion
2.0 Understanding Wireless Spectrum
2.1 In the beginning…
2.2 “Growing” and Improving Bandwidth
2.3 TV Band White Spaces
2.4 The Development of Spread Spectrum Solutions
3.0 White Space Operation
3.1 Signal Characteristics
3.2 Avoiding Interference
3.3 Transceiver Types
3.3.1 Fixed
3.3.2 Mobile
4.0 FCC Actions
4.1 Investigation
4.2 Field Trials
4.3 White Space Interference Issues
5.0 Market Opportunities
5.1 White-Fi
5.2 Wireless ISPs
5.2.1 Rural Markets
5.2.2 City Markets
5.3 Cellular Bypass
5.4 Smart Grid
6.0 Forecasts
6.1 Bi-Modal Product Development
6.1.1 WISPs
6.1.2 WLANs
6.2 Projections
6.2.1 Defining Product Categories
6.2.2 Pricing Assumptions
6.2.3 Unit Volume Assumptions
7.0 Future Implications
7.1 Spectrum Sharing Precedent
7.2 Open Access
7.3 International Expansion
Endnotes
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1- Channel 9 Broadcasters and White Spaces Map for the Northeast U.S.
Exhibit 2 – Cisco Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast
Exhibit 3 – Relationship between Fixed Rates and Higher Bandwidth Consumption
Exhibit 4 – Original TV Band Allocations
Exhibit 5 – TV Channels Sold in 2008 Auction
Exhibit 6 – Channel 22 TV Broadcasters and White Spaces Map
Exhibit 7 – Channel 9 TV Broadcasters and White Spaces Map
Exhibit 8 – Comparative Coverage Areas, White-Fi versus Wi-Fi
Exhibit 9 – Wi-Fi vs. White-Fi, Bandwidth by Distance
Exhibit 10 – White Space Mesh Network, A Conceptual Illustration
Exhibit 11 – Available White Space in Midtown Manhattan
Exhibit 12 – Mesh Wi-Fi: Organic Geographic Coverage Growth (Animation)
Exhibit 13 – Animation: Ad Hoc Mesh Networks
Exhibit 14 – The Evolution of Wireless LANs
Exhibit 15 – Wi-Fi Device Authorizations After Adoption of 802.11 Standard
Exhibit 16 – White Space Product Revenue Forecast, 2011-2015
Exhibit 17 – White Space Product Shipment Forecasts, 2011-2015
Exhibit 18 – White Space Product Forecast: Average Selling Price, 2011-2015
Exhibit 19 – White Spaces Mesh Covering Entire Village
