Aalto and Finnish research consortium receive Europe's first geolocation radio license

A test radio license for cognitive radio devices on the TV White Space frequencies has been issued to a Finnish research consortium WISE. The license is the first one in Europe having the geolocation database control of frequencies. The license covers the 470-790 MHz frequency range and a 40 km x 40 km area surrounding Turku, Finland. The license is valid for one year. Nearly 300 000 people live in the radio license area.

The WISE consortium consists of Aalto University Department of Signal Processing and Acoustics and Department of Communications and Networking, Nokia, Digita, Fairspectrum, Ficora, Turku University of Applied Sciences, and University of Turku.

Spectrum sharing is a global solution for matching the increasing demand for wireless data communication and scarce frequency resources. TV White Space frequencies are a real world test laboratory of spectrum sharing. TV White Space can improve existing data communication services by increasing data rates or coverage area. It can also make the services more cost efficient. New services can be developed, too.

Spectrum sharing in TV White Space is managed with a geolocation database. The geolocation database controls TV White Space device frequencies and transmission power so that the devices do not interfere other wireless communication systems like terrestrial TV or radio microphones.

The geolocation database applies geometrical computation in radio spectrum sharing. Geometrical computation makes the database efficient, fast, and easily customizable for various environments, regulations, and rules. The geometrical computation based rules can clearly be communicated between operators, regulators, and other users of the shared spectrum.

White space test environment for broadcast frequencies (WISE) is a Tekes funded research project in Finland, and it is a part of the Tekes Trial program. WISE studies efficient use of TV-band spectrum resources through cognitive radio technologies and geolocation databases. Tekes Trial program invites international experts and investments to benefit from its unique trial environment for cognitive radio and networks.