By opening a programming interface to its database of free white space, Google promises to make it easier for devices to find unused wireless spectrum. November 14, 2013 7:08 AM PST Google's database of free white space shows lots of green areas with unused capacity for wireless networks. (Credit: Google) In June, the U.S. Federal Communciations Commission certified Google to operate the national database detailing which particular patches of "white space" spectrum were usable for wireless communications. Now the company has opened a service that lets programs tap into that database, an automation step that Google expects will make it easier to squeeze as many bits as possible into the country's radio waves, Google Access prinicipal Alan Norman said in a blog post on Thursday. The database describes the use of white space -- electromagnetic spectrum reserved for TV broadcast but not actually in use. The tricky thing about white space is that the unused spectrum varies from region to region. Related stories FCC approves Google's 'white space' database operation California gets first commercial white-space high-speed Internet Google taps 'white spaces' for broadband in South Africa Google tests 'white space' database for FCC certification Nokia demos indoor-location tracking with 'white space' tech Google already operated a database to detail what spectrum is free in what areas. Now software can tap into that database through an application programming interface (API), which makes it possible for devices to find configuration details without human intervention. "The commercial account allows equipment makers to register their devices with our database in order to operate on available TV white space," Norman said. Google offers free use of the API to individuals and a commercial license for businesses. The first business paying for that access is Adaptrum, Google said. It uses it to offer public Wi-Fi at the West Virginia University. Although white space holds could help supply people with more of an increasingly precious resource, it's not a miracle cure. Cities, the very markets with the most people and therefore the heaviest utilization of existing network capacity, also happen to be the places where there's the least amount of free white space. Google's white-space database shows free spectrum unused by TV stations, in this case in New Mexico. The availability of free TV white space, shown here in green, varies from region to region. (Click to enlarge.) (Credit: screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)
By opening a programming interface to its database of free white space, Google promises to make it easier for devices to find unused wireless spectrum.
Google's database of free white space shows lots of green areas with unused capacity for wireless networks.
(Credit: Google)
In June, the U.S. Federal Communciations Commission certified Google to operate the national database detailing which particular patches of "white space" spectrum were usable for wireless communications. Now the company has opened a service that lets programs tap into that database, an automation step that Google expects will make it easier to squeeze as many bits as possible into the country's radio waves, Google Access prinicipal Alan Norman said in a blog post on Thursday.
The database describes the use of white space -- electromagnetic spectrum reserved for TV broadcast but not actually in use. The tricky thing about white space is that the unused spectrum varies from region to region.
Related stories
- FCC approves Google's 'white space' database operation
- California gets first commercial white-space high-speed Internet
- Google taps 'white spaces' for broadband in South Africa
- Google tests 'white space' database for FCC certification
- Nokia demos indoor-location tracking with 'white space' tech
Google already operated a database to detail what spectrum is free in what areas. Now software can tap into that database through an application programming interface (API), which makes it possible for devices to find configuration details without human intervention.
"The commercial account allows equipment makers to register their devices with our database in order to operate on available TV white space," Norman said.
Google offers free use of the API to individuals and a commercial license for businesses. The first business paying for that access is Adaptrum, Google said. It uses it to offer public Wi-Fi at the West Virginia University.
Although white space holds could help supply people with more of an increasingly precious resource, it's not a miracle cure. Cities, the very markets with the most people and therefore the heaviest utilization of existing network capacity, also happen to be the places where there's the least amount of free white space.
Google's white-space database shows free spectrum unused by TV stations, in this case in New Mexico. The availability of free TV white space, shown here in green, varies from region to region. (Click to enlarge.)
(Credit: screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)
