BT trials white spaces technology for broadband

Openreach is hoping the technology can assist homes without access to broadband

BT Openreach has begun trialling white spaces technology on the Isle of Bute for the provision of high-speed broadband.

White spaces are the unused parts of the ultra high-frequency TV spectrum, which are now increasingly available due to the switchover to digital TV.

BT is working with the University of Strathclyde and BBC Research and Development on the trial.

Openreach says initial results from the project – where the broadband has been tested over long distances and challenging terrain – look very promising.

However, more telling results will be gained from a live test with 12 end-users, due to commence in July.

The end-users will have their wireless service linked back to an exchange building at Kilchattan Bay, from where a dedicated radio link to the mainland will provide broadband access.

"The final 10 per cent of the UK is going to be the hardest to reach, with fixed-line superfast broadband, and so we are busy trialling other technologies," said Liv Garfield, CEO of Openreach.

"One of these is based on white space and I'm glad to say the initial results are very encouraging. It's early days, but our hope is that this technology may provide an effective solution for not spots and slow spots," she added.

Openreach also announced that a further 66 exchanges with fibre-based infrastructure will be made available to communications providers to deliver superfast broadband during 2012.

The government announced last month the next batch of its rural broadband budget to Wiltshire, Norfolk, Devon and Somerset. The areas will receive £50m of a total of £530m to be distributed between now and 2015.

Devon and Somerset will receive about £30m, with Norfolk awarded £15m and Wiltshire £4m.

This funding will be supplemented by financial support from local authorities and private investors.

These initiatives are in addition to the existing broadband pilots announced last October in North Yorkshire, the Highlands, and islands of Scotland, Cumbria and the Herefordshire borders.