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January 20, 2012

Adaptrum to Explore White Space Solutions at Super WiFi Summit

White Space solutions were a hot-button issue at the end of last year, and 2012 will see this area continue to grow as we move from beyond just testing these solutions to deploying them. In 10 days, industry leaders will convene at ITEXPO East 2012, taking place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, to shed light on what we can expect from white space solutions in the coming year.

Adaptrum, a Silicon Valley based startup developing wireless technologies and market-based mechanisms to enable new multi use network infrastructure/services, will join four other companies in a session titled “The December 2011 Cambridge White Spaces Trial: The Full Report & Whites Space: Base Stations and Edge: The Alpha Report,” part of the Super Wifi Summit, a collocated event at ITEXPO taking place Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 10-10:45 a.m.. Recently, Darrin M. Mylet, business operations at Adaptrum, sat down with Carl Ford, a partner at Crossfire Media, to talk about his upcoming session.

Where do we stand on the testing of White Space Solutions? 

We are actually moving from testing to deployments. In 2011, Adaptrum tested equipment in the US, UK, Africa, Asia and are working with many operators in the deployment of small networks where white space policy is either done or will be in the short term.   Adaptrum are moving from beta equipment to commercial chip set technology.

What are the possibilities for demand with Super WiFi?

Is this a mass market or a niche market? Initially, it will fit use cases where other technologies (millimeter wave) cannot make link. There is demand in both urban and rural. Avg. Broadband Speedtest reports in the US are still around 1-2 Mbps something we can easily achieve and surpass.

Where and how will Super WiFi be implemented? 

Initially, we see our systems attaching to 100/1000 Megabit connections and then a “super hot spot” creates coverage of one to two square miles or more. At that point our edge device delivers Wi-Fi or Ethernet to the customer(s).

Much of our discussion at the event is about Internet and Spectrum Policy.  How does the use of a spectrum database impact policy for Super WiFi / TV WhiteSpace and future strategies? 

This is a paradigm shift in spectrum allocation policy. It took a long time to open this spectrum up for use while protecting incumbent users. Like Wi-Fi, barriers to entry are eliminated allowing “anyone” to put spectrum to its best and highest use. We see many other spectrum opportunities becoming available in the future like government spectrum and perhaps un-used auctioned spectrum thru government take back or secondary markets.

Often our lessons are generational based on our kids and the millenials now entering the work force.  What is the impact of these new users and what is their relevance to Super WiFi? 

With an estimated 50 percent of carrier mobile traffic going over Wi-Fi, I expect Wi-Fi and Super Wi-Fi to carry more and more traffic proportionally vs. licensed mobile spectrum which will be more about voice and text coverage, not data.

Why is Super WiFi Summit a must-attend communications event? 

It is the event which marries the internet to emerging communications technology and business discussions. A very focused group of people who actually get things done. 

To find out more about Mylet, attend “The December 2011 Cambridge White Spaces Trial: The Full Report & Whites Space: Base Stations and Edge: The Alpha Report,” taking place Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 10-10:45 a.m. at ITEXPO East 2012. To be held Jan. 31- Feb. 3 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Fla.  ITEXPO is the world’s premier IP communications event. For more information on ITEXPO registration click here.


Carrie Schmelkin is a Web Editor for MobilityTechzone. Previously, she worked as Assistant Editor at the New Canaan Advertiser, a 102-year-old weekly newspaper, covering news and enhancing the publication's social media initiatives. Carrie holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in English from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves


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