Microsoft launches first television in Africa

Summary: Microsoft 4Afrika, in collaboration with Spectra Wireless, has launched its first television-free Spectrum business service network in Africa, where people will be able to buy cheap, high-speed Internet packages and equipment. It is reported that Spectra Wireless is the first in Africa to provide broadband Internet access with blank spectrum

Microsoft 4Afrika, in collaboration with Spectra Wireless, has launched its first television-free Spectrum business service network in Africa, where people will be able to buy cheap, high-speed Internet packages and devices. Spectra Wireless is the first company in Africa to provide broadband Internet access in the white space spectrum. Microsoft, which launched its pilot service last May, has accumulated experience in launching its commercial operations.

Fernando de Sousa, who heads Microsoft's Africa business, said the initial pilot project was to provide wireless broadband services to several universities in Ghana. This new business service allows students to have their own network packs, use and purchase Internet equipment, and access the network anywhere.

The "Blank Spectrum" (white MSN) is part of a Microsoft initiative in parts of Africa that is part of the "4Africa" campaign, primarily to help local students gain access to PC hardware and the Internet. At the same time, Microsoft also provides these schools with devices such as Windows tablet computers and projectors, where teachers can receive notebooks and related training. With local power supplies likely to affect the availability of these services, Microsoft also provides solar panel charging devices in areas where electricity is low.

Currently, the Microsoft Project has covered Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. In South Africa, Microsoft's "blank spectrum" Internet access Service is priced at $2-5 a month for unlimited 4Mbps broadband, which is much cheaper than the 35-dollar 1Mbps ADSL service offered by other Internet service providers.

In fact, Microsoft has had a few days to study and experiment with the TV blank spectrum, which is not yet fully utilized in the radio and television spectrum. As early as 2011, Microsoft announced plans to use the unused blank TV spectrum to resolve the world's spectrum crisis. At the time, Microsoft United UK Broadcasting and technology company released a date to launch a large-scale network testing technology to show how to use the spectrum to solve the problem of wireless data traffic congestion in cities, and how to provide wireless broadband services in rural communities. But at that time, since Chipmakers had not developed enough chips to embed them in tiny devices, the use of a blank TV spectrum network was still a long way from being commercialized.

Microsoft believes that through smart radios, unused and unlicensed blank spectrum can be identified to enhance wireless broadband services using the authorized spectrum. Paul Garnett, head of Microsoft's technology Strategy Group, said

"Blank band and efficient spectrum management will bring huge potential for broadband access around the world." We hope that all countries and governments will be able to take measures to deploy the gap spectrum.

Microsoft has set up a scenario where wireless users have smartphones that support the traditional Wi-Fi band as well as Wi-Fi blank bands. Because the blank spectrum works in the lower band, Wi-Fi can be used to cover a wider range. When the white spectrum is available, the device can connect to the network. When it is unavailable, the phone can connect to a traditional Wi-Fi network.

At the policy level, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) also gave the green light to the use of the blank spectrum. In 2011, the FCC Technology Office approved a blank spectrum database developed by the Spectrum Bridge organization. At the same time, the FCC has approved broadcast emission components from Koos Technical services, which can be integrated into devices that use these blank spectrum.

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said in the announcement:

"We approved the first television channel blank spectrum database and equipment, and made a significant step towards a new round of wireless innovation." Releasing the blank spectrum will result in billions of of dollars in WiFi-related economic benefits. This is the last major unauthorized spectrum that will drive private investment and create jobs. ”

It is not only Microsoft that is committed to providing Internet solutions in remote and underdeveloped areas. Google is working on Project Whye, and Facebook is experimenting with solar drone Zephyr (Facebook launched a project called "Internet.org" in August 2013, One big goal is to get everyone in the world to connect to the Internet.

In an effort to provide high-speed Internet services to rural India, India's telecoms sector has issued a $ billions of contract to seek cooperation for the last mile of Internet connectivity. The three giants fought fiercely for it. Last November, Microsoft's TV-gap spectrum had started experimenting in India and would be fully promoted once it was feasible.

"Microsoft's blank spectrum solution is more effective than Google and Facebook solutions," said Pramanik, Microsoft's regional director for India. I can't imagine drones hovering long enough, or balloons not drifting away, and we can use solar, antennas and simple television broadcasts to provide Internet connectivity. ”

However, Microsoft is not the only company that has tried to exploit the blank spectrum. Google also launched a blank Spectrum pilot project in South Africa in March 2013, using a blank spectrum to provide broadband Internet access to 10 schools in Cape Town. In addition, Google's "TV blank Spectrum database" has been approved by the FCC to allow it to operate in the United States.

In the future, the Internet, which uses TV's blank spectrum, may become the norm in many parts of the world. Especially in less developed areas, TV-spectrum networks mean faster speeds, better reception effects and cheaper services.