Super Wi-Fi Is Expected To Make Its Mark In 2013

By: Talha Bhatti  |   September 6th, 2012   |   Business, Gadgets, News

Wi-Fi can be found everywhere from university campuses to coffee shops and private residences. It was only a few short years ago that Wi-Fi was still in its infancy and consumers had not started adapting the technology into their lives. Super Wi-Fi, which has a much longer range than current wi-fi, is at a similar stage of its life cycle and is ready to burst onto the scene probably by 2013. The FCC announced in December 2011 that the new technology would be online by January of 2012 and as we near the end of the year mass deployment seems likely.

 

Large players like Google and Microsoft are some of the early adopters of the technology which is actually not really Wi-Fi but the name has stuck. Wi-Fi uses an unlicensed spectrum to create a wireless network in a small radius. On the other hand, Super Wi-Fi takes advantage of White Spaces, which is part of the spectrum that is not used or underemployed. The new wireless network has a much larger reach than Wi-Fi and is much faster. Potentially Super Wi-Fi will be able to provide internet access to areas of the country that currently do not have internet. If a rural community is able to receive a TV signal they will be able to access the super Wi-Fi wireless network.

 

Initially the new technology had to battle it out in court against broadcasters. However, they finally came around and the FCC was able to give it a green light for use. There are only some scattered pilot programs that are using Super Wi-Fi in the US but with an announcement from Spectrum Bridge that it will actively facilitate equipment manufacturers to acquire white-space radio sales approvals it seems the 2013 is the year of Super Wi-Fi. Another boost to the cause is an announcement by Advanced Internet Regions University (AIR.U) that they too will be deploying the new technology at universities across the United States.

 

Source: Business Insider

Photo: Modmyi