Google and Microsoft back UK trial to use ‘white space’ bandwidth

Google and Microsoft are backing national trials of mobile services across fallow parts of the broadcast spectrum in the UK that could help avert a looming shortage of mobile frequencies.

So-called “white space” technology allows mobile broadband to be carried over unused, and unlicensed, broadcast frequencies, which could be used by smartphones and tablets as well as a range of business applications. Ofcom, the communications watchdog, has identified the technology as an important means of meeting critical capacity shortages for mobile communications in future.