It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…Super Wi-Fi?
October 3rd, 2010
A historic decision by the FCC last week has bloggers everywhere talking, and companies like Google salivating. The commission voted to open up use of unlicensed broadcast television frequencies, the first decision of its kind in over 20 years. Using these new channels, developers will be able to send wireless signals over greater distances and at greater speeds than we have now. The Super Wi-Fi spectrum distance measures in miles, not feet, while the speeds approach that of a cable modem. The signal will also be able to penetrate obstacles (like walls) more reliably.The reason that the debate had floundered in recent years was concern over interference with broadcast signals. The FCC will require special devices to prevent signal crossing, and is setting two channels aside specifically for wireless microphone use. Otherwise, the “white space” has just been waiting for a purpose, especially since television broadcasts moved to digital transmission. Google is currently testing the technology at an Ohio hospital, but in the future consumer applications are expected, allowing users to access their home Wi-Fi from great distances.