
Larry Page: Free White Space!
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
Almost anything at this time and age is wireless. We have wireless communications, wireless networks, wireless connections to the Internet, and wireless telephones and such. Larry Page, President and co-founder of Google, wants to venture more into wireless technology.
There are several unused TV spectrum that could be tapped for wireless devices. Known as white space, this unused TV spectrum lying in the 700 MHz frequency only acts as a buffer between TV channels. Page went to Washington to discuss with the Federal Communications Commission the possibilities of freeing most of white space, which is perfect for wireless data transfers and transmissions between wireless devices.
Although some portions of white space have already been occupied, with Verizon using most of it, there are still some chunks of the spectrum that are left untouched. Page wants those untapped resources used. However, there are some organizations that are averse to the concept of freeing the spectrum for use of wireless devices, most notably television broadcasters. TV companies argue that wireless devices using white space will certainly cause interference in their broadcasts. Page thinks that the interference issue is exaggerated; the spectrum can be shared, he insists.
Whether the interference scare is overrated or not, Page clearly has a vision of things to come. This world is already in the wireless age. Why not develop it more?
Larry Page is profiled in Forbes magazine.
Other technology leaders such as Mayo Shattuck are profiled on Leaders of Technology.
Mayo Shattuck is profiled on BusinessWeek.
Almost anything at this time and age is wireless. We have wireless communications, wireless networks, wireless connections to the Internet, and wireless telephones and such. Larry Page, President and co-founder of Google, wants to venture more into wireless technology.
There are several unused TV spectrum that could be tapped for wireless devices. Known as white space, this unused TV spectrum lying in the 700 MHz frequency only acts as a buffer between TV channels. Page went to Washington to discuss with the Federal Communications Commission the possibilities of freeing most of white space, which is perfect for wireless data transfers and transmissions between wireless devices.
Although some portions of white space have already been occupied, with Verizon using most of it, there are still some chunks of the spectrum that are left untouched. Page wants those untapped resources used. However, there are some organizations that are averse to the concept of freeing the spectrum for use of wireless devices, most notably television broadcasters. TV companies argue that wireless devices using white space will certainly cause interference in their broadcasts. Page thinks that the interference issue is exaggerated; the spectrum can be shared, he insists.
Whether the interference scare is overrated or not, Page clearly has a vision of things to come. This world is already in the wireless age. Why not develop it more?
Larry Page is profiled in Forbes magazine.
Other technology leaders such as Mayo Shattuck are profiled on Leaders of Technology.
Mayo Shattuck is profiled on BusinessWeek.

