The CSIRO will tomorrow unveil a breakthrough in wireless technology that will allow multiple users to upload content at the same time while maintaining a data transfer rate of 12 megabits per second (Mbps), all over their old analog TV aerial.
(Credit: Geoff Ambler/CSIRO)
The technology, named Ngara, allows up to six users to occupy the equivalent spectrum space of one television channel (7 megahertz) and has a spectral efficiency of 20 bits per second per hertz. Ngara can handle up to three times that of similar technology and maintains a data rate more than 10 times the industry minimum standard, CSIRO ICT centre director Dr Ian Opperman revealed.
"Someone who doesn't live near the fibre network could get to it using our new wireless system," Oppermann said in a statement. "They'd be able to upload a clip to YouTube in real time and their data rate wouldn't change even if five of their neighbours also started uploading videos."
The Federal Government's National Broadband Network project will deliver fibre services to 93 per cent of the population, while another 4 per cent are expected to be covered by wireless broadband services. NBN Co recently released a consultation paper calling for industry views on proposed wireless services.
(Credit: Geoff Ambler/CSIRO)
The Federal Government is currently switching off analog TV signals across the country, with the deadline for the switch-off to be completed by 2013. The spectrum currently used for analog TV is expected to be auctioned off by the Australian Communications and Media Authority shortly after that. Optus and Telstra have been calling for a quick release of the spectrum so that they can use it for their planned Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile networks.
The Ngara technology could also utilise this spectrum, according to Gartner wireless research director Robin Simpson.
"This means any rural property or business that can currently receive TV signals could in future connect to high-speed internet just by using a new set-top box," he said.
Simpson told ZDNet Australia that the technology was specifically designed for rural areas but could also potentially compete with LTE in metropolitan areas.
"What I'm most interested in about it is that it is an ideal technology for remote and rural areas provided they already have TV, which a lot of them do. Wherever there's a broadcast tower, they can pop antennas for this new technology on that tower and reach the homestead through the existing tower," he said.
"What appeals to me about it is that it re-uses existing infrastructure, all of the competing wireless technologies tend to use high frequencies and therefore require new base stations, new spectrum and new receiving antenna infrastructure as well," he added. "The fact that they're re-using the analog TV stuff gives them a much easier market entry strategy."
The CSIRO was the first to develop Wi-Fi technology that is widely used across the world today and currently holds the patent for the technology. It has instigated a number of legal cases in recent years to protect this patent and retrieve royalties owed to the organisation.
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Good to see Australia developing its own tech for this problem and not outsourcing it elsewhere. I just hope they dont go all patent trolly on everyone like they did with the 802.11 standards. Patents are so often abused and used for extortion these days. And I bet none of those Aussies who worked so tirelessly in making the technology work actually see those dollars down the track. Still, this is a step in the right direction for the kinds of communication techniques required in a country like Australia and probably a lot of others too. I'd like to see a bit more than 12mbits downlink though. Maybe 48/24mbit down/up. I doubt Telstra has the backbone to support those speeds and god knows it would never sell any plans even remotely close to them. Like when they first introduced ADSL1 with 512Kb maximum DL speed out of a potential 8mbits or 1/16th of what they could have done. I think they could combine this Wifi tech with a one way long haul xDSL technology for uplink and make a hybrid Chello type delivery system.
Unfortunately research is not free and government funding only goes so far.
I dont think CSIRO would go to court without believing they had a fair claim, unlike many of the commercial operators that do so simply to try and suppress the competition. CSIRO will use funds from claims for further research whereas the others will use it to line the CEO's and shareholder's pockets.