Google today announced a white spaces test in Logan, Ohio. Spectrum Bridge, the Hocking Valley Community Hospital, and Google have teamed up to deploy a broadband network using the TV white spaces.
Google says it’s the first test for a hospital – demonstrating the potential of the TV white spaces. They hope to spark new applications in healthcare. First responder vehicles, hospital grounds as well as the health department are being equipped with high-speed wireless Internet access. Additionally, the hospital is using the network to manage its outdoor video surveillance system.
The radios are based on commercially available WiMax™ technology from Airspan Networks. The resulting applications include:
- Wireless data transfer from first responder’s vehicles
- Indoor broadband access, yielding enhanced connectivity throughout the hospital
- Outdoor video surveillance to provide additional security for hospital operations
To prevent interference with other signals, the network is using Spectrum Bridge’s real-time TV white spaces database (to determine TV white spaces availability at any location, check out Spectrum Bridge’s free search tool.)
Next Thursday, September 23, the FCC will be voting on final technical rules governing the white spaces – a vote that could pave the way for unlicensed white spaces deployments across the country.
