Development of TV white-space LTE devices complying with regulation in UK digital terrestrial TV band

Abstract

Recently, white-space communication system has been widely promoted as one of the spectrum sharing technologies for further efficient use of spectrum resource. In particular, white-spaces in the TV bands (TVWS, TV white-spaces) have attracted attentions worldwide and regulations have been established in the U.S.A, the U.K., Singapore, etc. In the U.K., pilot program has been started based on regulations established by the Ofcom and trial operation of TVWS communication systems in cooperation with authenticated white-space databases has been performed from July 2014. In this trial, to avoid interference with primary users such as TV broadcasters and wireless microphones, draft rules established by ETSI are employed as specifications of radio characteristics. In this study, to verify the feasibility of spectrum expansion of mobile communication systems by utilizing the TVWS, the authors have developed TVWS LTE devices complying with the Ofcom rules and performed field experiment in the U.K. Prototyped devices have been licensed by the Ofcom and TVWS LTE system has been successfully demonstrated in London urban area. As a result, it is confirmed that the existing LTE system can be operated in the U.K. TVWS without interference with the primary users. This is the first report on prototype of TVWS LTE devices conforming to the ETSI draft specification.