What is it?

The IEEE 802.22 is a cognitive radio standard being developed to bring broadband access to less populated rural areas by using vacant TV channels. With relatively low levels of industrial noise and ionospheric reflections; reasonable antenna sizes; and very good non-line-of-sight (NLOS) propagation characteristics, the TV broadcast bands in the high-VHF/low-UHF range are ideal for covering large areas in sparsely populated rural environments. Extensive use of cognitive radio technologies such as RF sensing, geolocation, access to broadcast incumbent databases, dynamic frequency selection and limitation of transmitted EIRP at the user terminal provides coexistence with the broadcast incumbents on a non-interference basis, and self-coexistence with other 802.22 WRAN systems to maximize the spectrum use.

Why is it important?

Spurred by the interest of the spectrum regulators in the USA to explore the possibility of allowing access to the TV broadcast bands for license-exempt devices, an opportunity was created to develop a system capable of using these frequency bands on a non-interfering basis through cognitive radio capability to bring broadband access to less populated rural areas - the very areas where there is a large number of vacant TV channels and where there is an insufficient level of broadband access service resulting from the lack of cost effective technologies aimed at these underserved areas. Canada has already taken steps in this direction by opening a subset of TV channels for broadband access in remote rural areas in the UHF band under licensed operation with its Radio Systems Policy RP-006 and its Interim Technical Guideline GL-05. Other regions of the world also plan to evaluate the use of this spectrum for broadband access, to promote both economic growth in rural areas and more efficient use of this highly valuable and useful spectral resource.

Who will use it?

Wireless Internet Service Providers in Canada and around the world will be able to take advantage of the large coverage capabilities of the 802.22 systems (17 to 30 km in radius) to bring broadband access in hard-to-reach areas where no other technology could do it economically. The IEEE builds upon its success in developing worldwide wireless standards such as the IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) to develop this new standard that will ultimately result in low-cost equipment through high volume production for the rural markets around the world.

Contact

Gérald Chouinard
Program Manager, Rural and Remote Broadband Access, and
Vice-chair, IEEE 802.22 Standardization Working Group
Tel: (613) 998-2500
E-mail: gerald.chouinard@crc.gc.ca