TV White Space tech seen to solve ‘last-mile’ Internet connectivity

MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has recognized the importance of the Television White Space (TVWS) program of the Department of Science and Technology- Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) to make Internet connectivity available even to the country’s far-flung areas.

Emmanuel Esguerra, NEDA deputy director general, said the TVWS Internet program will provide Internet connectivity through which government services can be made more accessible by more people, even in the countryside.

Esguerra, in his speech at the closing ceremonies of the 36th Annual Scientific Meeting of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) recently, said the TVWS program was one of the government’s flagship projects to develop the country’s information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, to boost its competitiveness.

“The government will continue leveraging (ICT), especially in maintaining the country’s lead in the IT-BPM (information technology-business process management) services sector,” he said.

“ICT will also be tapped to broaden the access of citizens to government services such as in health and education,” he said.

“This includes the provision of the needed ICT infrastructure and shared services, standards and inter-operability for publicly funded systems, particularly the rolling out of the (TVWS) public service infrastructure,” he added.

The DOST-ICTO hopes to make the Philippines 99 percent connected to the Internet by 2015 using the TVWS technology.

Science and Technology Undersecretary Louis Casambre, ICTO executive director, said the nationwide rollout of the TVWS connectivity project was expected to cost roughly P3.5 billion.

Casambre said the P3.5-billion cost, which he described as just a “rough” estimate, only covers the “last mile” areas currently underserved or unserved by telecommunication companies.

TVWS refers to the vacant frequencies in between broadcast TV channels, which can be used to provide wireless data connectivity to remote communities.

Under the TVWS project, these unused TV frequencies will be used to accommodate Internet band with connectivity.

The DOST has successfully conducted pilot testing of the TVWS technology in Bohol and Palo town in Leyte. Providing the technology is Filipino-Singaporean firm Nityo Infotech, a TVWS pioneer.

The ICTO also tapped Nityo Infotech to set up its TVWS system in Tacloban City and Palo a week after Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated eastern Visayas last November, as Internet connectivity was vital in speeding up disaster relief and recovery efforts.

Also supporting the pilot of TVWS technology are Microsoft and Power Automation Co., a subsidiary of Singapore Power. Microsoft and the United States Agency for International Development supported the deployment of the TVWS in Palo and Tacloban.

Casambre said the speed with which Nityo Infotech set up the TVWS system proved the huge potential of the technology as a solution to the “last mile” problem of connecting far-flung communities to the Internet.

Roy del Rosario, Nityo Infotech managing director, said they are ready to pour in additional investment for the expansion of the national broadband connectivity.

In an earlier interview, DOST Assistant Secretary Bettina Quimson, ICTO deputy executive director, said TVWS is proving to be a quicker and cheaper solution to provide Internet connectivity to isolated rural areas. “It is the most ideal solution,” she said, citing its quick deployment and easy access once set up.