Cambridge Consultants send first tweet over white space

Researchers at Cambridge Consultants have demonstrated the practical applications of so-called white space technology by using it to send a tweet.

Workers at the IT research group used its @CambConsultants Twitter account to send the message: “The first tweet over Whitespace?”

The researchers created a white space network using the TV frequencies in the village of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire – chosen because it is currently not well served by other wireless networks.

An antenna positioned at the top of Cambridge Consultants’ headquarters was to transmit a signal, which could be picked up in the village six kilometres away.

“We believe that white space [technology]… has the potential to change the way that people communicate, especially in rural areas,” said Richard Traherne, head of wireless at Cambridge Consultants.

White space networks rely on the unused parts of the ultra-high-frequency TV spectrum, which are increasingly available due to the ongoing switchover to digital TV.

Cambridge Consultants had worked with Ofcom to create a database engine capable of identifying which frequencies are used by television transmitters in the area, ensuring it could set up a white space network that would not interfere with residents' TV and radio signals.

The researchers also used the white space network to access other social media tools, including Skype and YouTube.

Earlier this week, Microsoft, the BBC and BT confirmed they were to start a trial of white space technology, also in the Cambridge area.