Page 50 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

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Microsoft’s TV White Space Proposal Moves Forward

The Federal Communications Commission revise the rules to provide flexibility for channels to extend broadband in rural and
(FCC) on Friday proposed updates to TV these devices to more fully participate in remote areas,” said Michael Calabrese,
white space (TVWS) rules in the name of the IoT. Microsoft President Brad Smith director of the Wireless Future Program
better broadband for rural areas of the tweeted the company’s response to the at the Open Technology Institute at New
country. It's a win for Microsoft, which last news. One of the criticisms with TVWS America. “The proposal to allow the use
year had filed a petition seeking updates to has been around the accuracy of the FCC’s of unlicensed TV white spaces to extend
the rules to advance its Airband Initiative. databases. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly internet connectivity to vehicles, including
White spaces operate in portions of the in his statement said improvements have school buses and farm equipment, meets
broadcast television bands that are not been made to ensure the accuracy of the critical needs. Opportunistic use of
used by television stations, and while databases, and “we are finally in a position unused TV spectrum will bring enormous
Microsoft early on was met with resistance where interested parties can determine benefits to rural, tribal and unserved
from the National Association of whether there is usable spectrum in a communities.” Connect Americans
Broadcasters (NAB), the parties managed specific area, providing them with the Now (CAN) consists more than 270
to come to terms on a number of items. needed assurances to invest and deploy members, including Microsoft and groups
Specifically, the FCC’s Notice of Proposed systems.” Other industry stakeholders representing agriculture, education,
Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks comment applauded the FCC’s move as well. The veteran and telehealth organizations. In a
on a proposal to permit higher transmit FCC’s TVWS order, through its increased statement, CAN Executive Director Richard
power and antenna height above average power and tower height limits, makes the Cullen said the action on TVWS can help
terrain for fixed white space devices in band more powerful and useful, adding more farmers and ranchers capitalize on
less congested geographic areas. How an important new tool to unlicensed rural advancements in precision agriculture and
leading manufacturing, infra and service providers employing it to serve customers, improve access to telehealth solutions
providers are using edge computing to according to Louis Peraertz, VP of Policy for more seniors and veterans, among
deploy innovative IoT solutions that drive for the Wireless Internet Service Providers other things. “With so much at stake,
business results. If adopted, the changes Association (WISPA). “This is a good we encourage the Commission to move
would allow white space devices to reach move for services using TV White Space swiftly to finalize and implement rules in
users at greater distances, resulting in technologies, and will help more rural 2020 that support greater utilization of TV
better broadband coverage. It also would Americans get on the internet,” he said in white space to enhance the pace, scale
permit higher-power mobile operation a statement. “A unanimous FCC correctly and cost-effectiveness of rural broadband
within defined geographical areas, and recognizes the potential to use vacant TV deployments,” he said.

Nokia Completes Acquisition of Elenion
Technologies

Nokia announced the successful completion of
its acquisition of Elenion Technologies, a U.S.-
based company focusing on silicon photonics
technology. The planned acquisition was
originally announced February 19, 2020. Elenion’s
technology expertise and unique design platform
and services enable Nokia to expand its market
footprint by addressing the critical and rapidly
evolving optical connectivity requirements of
5G, cloud and enterprise networking. Ownership
of these key assets brings time-to-market and
cost advantages to Nokia’s broad portfolio of
networking solutions by applying the massive
scale and economies of silicon design and
manufacturing to the optical supply chain.

50 MARCH 2020