Expert canvasses fast deployment of TV White space to close digital divide

A Lagos based information technology security and connectivity consultant, Mr. Adesanya Ahmed Adesanya, has urged for fast deployment of TV White space by operators to assist in increasing internet penetration in the country.

This is coming against the backdrop of release of guideline on the use of Television White Space (TVWS) by Nigerian Communications Commission in conjunction with National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over a year now.

According to him, “as technology advances, it is important not to leave anyone behind as fast and reliable internet access is now one of life’s necessities, critical to accessing tele-medicine solutions, pursuing an online education, using precision agriculture, or operating a small business. NCC’s most recent report found that more than 60% of  Nigerians lack broadband access as such wireless technologies, such as TV white spaces and unused broadcasting frequencies  are critical to closing the digital divide”.

Adesanya quoted Pew research, which says that wired technologies such as phone landlines and cable for broadband take longer to adopt. In contrast, wireless technologies, such as radio and color broadcast television, achieved near-universal adoption within 25 years.

He pointed out that “Waiting on the deployment and adoption of wired technologies, like fiber-optic connections, to close the digital divide is not an option when so many people across the country lack internet access”.

He noted that TV White Space can also compete with other technologies, even as it has an attractive feature of using lower frequencies compared to Wi-Fi and mobile networks, spanning from the 470 MHz to 790 MHz frequency bands, thus allowing the signal to travel much greater distances and penetrate permanent obstacles such as buildings and trees, as well as travel around terrain allowing non-line of sight (NLOS) connections

“This technology can penetrate through any terrain and walls to provide internet service to under serve area and rural communities in Nigeria market at large. This tells you how important the technology is for our connectivity to other technology,” he stressed.