Super Wi-Fi on the horizon

Unable to answer an urgent e-mail in the middle of the golf course, or post photos on Instagram during a visit to a new - and huge - tourist attraction here because there's little to no wireless Internet connection?

How about not being able to log onto Wi-Fi while walking along Orchard Road as you try to save on your mobile data?

In the near future, these may no longer be issues, thanks to a new TV White Spaces technology, or Super Wi-Fi as it is more colloquially known.

The technology relies on unused radio frequencies in TV broadcast bands - the white spaces - for wireless-broadband use.

It is said to have a much farther range than traditional Wi-Fi, which could make Super Wi-Fi useful to deploy in large areas where installing Wi-Fi hot spots can be difficult.

Yesterday, headway was made towards laying the rules for organisations to deploy the technology.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) will be implementing a set of regulations for the use of airwaves in these white spaces from November.

This was announced last night by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim at the ministerial forum on infocomm technology at the National Design Centre.

Consumers can expect to use Super Wi-Fi in products 18 to 24 months from now, when chipsets become available for manufacturers to include in products such as routers and laptops.

The regulations come after a public consultation last year, as well as recommendations from the Singapore White Spaces Pilot Group.

Many commercial Super Wi-Fi tests were done by the group in more than 40 locations islandwide, including Gardens by the Bay.

Based on the findings from the tests, the group found that the radio frequencies used for Super Wi-Fi cover a wider range and can co-exist well with other radio technologies without causing bad interference.

"Typically, Wi-Fi has a range of between 100m and 200m. As for (Super Wi-Fi) technology, depending on various factors, the range can be between 1km and 10km," said the pilot group's spokesman and Microsoft's technology policy director, Jeffrey Yan.

Super Wi-Fi's ability to penetrate obstacles such as buildings, trees and hills means it can be used in dense urban settings such as Orchard Road, and remote areas over a long distance, such as golf courses, added Mr Yan.

The regulations include equipment requirements and radio-frequency channels to be made available for Super Wi-Fi.

Dr Yaacob said: "It is expected to result in greater capacity and data connectivity for wireless broadband Internet access. The framework will encourage and facilitate businesses and service providers to develop new wireless services and applications, or utilise (Super Wi-Fi) to supplement and enhance their existing networks."

Businesses which decide to use Super Wi-Fi may do so without applying for a licence from the IDA, though they still have to comply with rules.

Could Super Wi-Fi then be eventually used as an alternative to wireless local area networks such as regular Wi-Fi?

Unlikely, said Michael Stephens, telecoms equipment-maker Coriant's vice-president for Asia-Pacific global services.

"Higher bandwidth is needed for Internet connection, especially on smartphones, tablets and laptops, more so in an age where we demand to be connected 24 hours a day, We cannot expect (Super Wi-Fi) to be an alternative for all Internet broadband access. It is more of a complementary option than an alternative to current Wi-Fi systems, potentially extending their reach and penetration," said Mr Stephens.

For client services executive Bhuva Narayanan, Super Wi-Fi sounds like a good thing to have.

"But can we be assured that it will guarantee seamless connectivity? Also, will it be available islandwide in Singapore or only in certain areas?"she said.

gurveenk@sph.com.sg

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LEE WAN SIM

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Here is the full statement from the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA):

Singapore is gearing up to be the world's first Smart Nation, building on the achievements of the intelligent Nation 2015 (iN2015) masterplan. To support the vision and enable a Smart Nation, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) will be strengthening the hard and soft infrastructure holistically.

This includes developing the Smart Nation Platform (SNP) and initiatives that boost soft infrastructure, such as creating standards for Internet of Things @ Home and building of talent in new areas like Games Science. Fifteen smart solutions will also be trialled at the Jurong Lake District (JLD), giving a glimpse of what a Smart Nation could look like.

Announced today by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of Communications and Information at the opening of the Infocomm Media Business Exchange 2014, he said, "We believe that a Smart Nation can become a reality if we successfully combine policy, people and technology in a concerted fashion. A key component in our Smart Nation vision is the Smart Nation Platform or SNP. As part of the SNP, we will further our capabilities in pervasive connectivity, by building new infrastructure and common technical architecture to support an innovative ecosystem across Singapore".

The SNP gives a strong boost to Singapore's hard infrastructure. On top of enhancing the existing connectivity in Singapore with technologies such as that used in HetNet, the SNP is aimed at bringing together a nationwide sensor network and data analytics abilities, providing better situational awareness through data collection, and efficient sharing of collected sensor data.

SNP will thus comprise of key components such as the communications backbone, sensor networks, data analytics and real-world applications that will empower individuals, government and businesses alike. The SNP will be developed in various phases, with the first phase focusing on the connectivity and sensor aspects expected to be available by 2015.

In boosting the communications backbone, IDA will also be starting trials for the Heterogeneous Network (HetNet). HetNet is expected to allow for seamless connectivity, and the trials will validate technologies and capabilities of HetNet. A briefing on how the industry can participate in the trials is slated for 1 July 2014.

Various Smart Nation technologies will also be deployed and tested at JLD, which offers a "live environment and living lab". As part of a Smart Nation to drive innovation and creation of new applications and services, services like smart queue monitoring, smart mobile navigation guides and autonomous buggies are to be trialled in the JLD, helping to bring benefits of these solutions closer to citizens and businesses.

Mr Steve Leonard, Executive Deputy Chairman, IDA said, "We have made great headway in just over a year from conceptualisation to real action in building Singapore as the world's first Smart Nation. One of the first building blocks for this vision to become reality is the development of a Smart Nation Platform (SNP). SNP will serve as a foundation on which companies of all sizes, as well as government agencies can experiment and innovate with new ways to collect, move and interpret data in order to better serve citizens. We welcome great ideas and input from across all communities and industries as we work to build Singapore into a Smart Nation."

Part of the soft infrastructure in a Smart Nation also includes technical standards. IDA's Internet of Things @ Home initiative will be looking to identify open standards which seek to enable seamless interoperability between connected smart devices as they are applied in a home setting. This will raise the potential of these devices in providing stronger benefits and enhanced user experience to home dwellers.

For citizens and businesses to reap the full benefits of Smart Nation innovation, services and solutions could also be equipped with easy to use intuitive interfaces or gesture control and services in virtual reality. Such interfaces and services can be developed by applying Game Science and Technology, an area that IDA is newly exploring, to ascertain its use in non-game industries such as healthcare and education.

Visitors to imbX 2014 which includes the CommunicAsia 2014 Exhibition will be treated to some of the latest technologies that the Singapore tech ecosystem has to offer. IDA will be showcasing Smart Nation possibilities at the exhibition. They include the replication of HetNet deployment through the integration of cellular and WI-FI networks; analytics solutions by Singapore-based tech start-ups; and the showcase of Smart Nation technologies to be tested in JLD. These include a District Management System which uses video and image analytics to estimate the level of cleanliness of a designated area.