OTTAWA — Industry Canada announced today new measures to make so-called “super Wi-Fi” available in Canada, primarily to bring improved broadband Internet services to consumers in rural communities.
According to an Industry Canada news release, the government of Canada has been exploring new ways to access additional spectrum by using portions of television airwaves that are not being used currently in certain areas of Canada. This unused television spectrum is known as TV white space (TVWS) and can be used to deliver broadband Internet, similar to Wi-Fi, but with expanded coverage that exceeds traditional Wi-Fi, Industry Canada said in its release.
“Spectrum is a valuable public resource, and it is our responsibility as government to allocate it in such a way that benefits Canadian consumers first and foremost. Our government has made it a priority to connect thousands of Canadians in rural and remote areas to high-speed Internet services. Today’s TV white spaces announcement builds on that commitment by creating the right conditions for new technology and services to be developed and delivered to Canadians at the most affordable prices,” Industry Minister James Moore is quoted as saying in the release.
“I applaud the government’s decision to move forward in making TV white space devices a reality in Canada. These standards and requirements are the important final step in bringing cutting-edge alternatives for broadband access to thousands of Canadian households, as well as ensuring Canada remains a leader in wireless innovation,” said Robert Wu, founder and CEO of wireless technology developer 6Harmonics Inc., in the Industry Canada news release.
TVWS devices are designed to avoid interference with existing TV broadcast operations. An Industry Canada backgrounder on TVWS devices and additional information regarding technical standards and operational requirements can be accessed on the government of Canada’s website.
