Dr Ibrahim unveils regulations for TV White Spaces in S'pore

SINGAPORE - The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has finalised the regulatory framework for TV White Space technology deployment, to facilitate the demand for greater data connectivity and capacity for consumers and businesses.

Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said that Singapore will become one of the first few countries in the world to have such regulations.

In his speech today at the Ministerial Forum welcome dinner on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Dr Ibrahim said that telecommunication regulators have been searching for ways to increase bandwidth, and found a way through the use of Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technology.

DSA technology is said to be an under-utilised frequency bands which improving the way wireless devices access spectrum resources.

In TV broadcast channels, the spectrum resource known as "TV White Spaces" can be tapped to increase the bandwidth capacity for wireless devices.

Through the introduction of the TV White Space regulatory framework, an estimated 180 MHz of spectrum will be made available for TV White Space operation.

Dr Ibrahim said it is expected to result in greater capacity and data connectivity for wireless broadband internet access.

For consumers, they will able to benefit from the services provided over TV White Space, as they will have greater access to more options of wireless services such as Wi-Fi.

The framework will also encourage and facilitate businesses and services providers to develop new wireless services and applications, or utilise TV White Space to supplement and enhance their existing networks.

Business applications may include Machine-to-Machine communications, smart metering and outdoor environment and security monitoring services.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg