BT Openreach tests white space for wireless broadband in rural areas

BT Openreach has been trialling a new wireless broadband access technology on the Isle of Bute.

BT Openreach's pilot schemes were designed to see if what are called "white spaces", the unused parts of the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) TV spectrum, can be used to deliver high speed broadband to hard to reach areas.

These spaces are becoming increasingly available thanks to the switchover to digital TV. Openreach said the trials it has carried out in partnership with the Strathclyde University, BBC Research and Development, Steepest Ascent, Berg Design and Netpropagate have proved promising.

However the company said that more tests need to be done to see if white space can be used to give connections to homes that either receives no broadband service or a sub-2Mbits/s service due to the length of their line.

Openreach said it will begin live trials next month with about a dozen users on the island.

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

Openreach also announced it will install fibre-based connections to a further 66 exchanges across the UK. This will allow internet service providers (ISPs) to offer super fast broadband to a further approximately one million homes and businesses.

The majority of exchanges will be enabled during 2012 with others going live by the end of this year. Openreach will reveal further locations over the coming months.