Microsoft Educates Africa on Broadband Access Through TV White Spaces

Answering the clarion call for universal digital inclusion, leading tech giant Microsoft is now joining forces with local startups specializing in the field of TV White Spaces (TVWS). This strategic partnership aims to provide internet access to individuals residing in remote areas. Today, it is estimated that approximately 4 billion people around the globe – many among these hailing from populous Africa – still do not have access to the internet. Understandably, Microsoft’s mission to bridge this digital divide in Africa is beneficial not just for the people, but also for the advancement of the continent.

Although this initiative appears novel and revolutionary, it is, in fact, a burgeoning effort. Last year, it was reported that many Africans were exploring TV White Spaces to bring broadband access to the majority who do not have such services due to financial constraints. Following suit, tech competitor Facebook has also ventured into the realm of digital inclusion through its Internet.org program, beaming internet services to remote areas of South America, Asia, and Africa using drone and laser technology.

Microsoft’s admirable endeavor dates back to 2013, and it has shown promising results in bridging the internet gap. For instance, in May 2013, at the World Economic Forum on Africa, Microsoft announced a new pilot in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In collaboration with the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) and local Internet service provider UhuruOne, Microsoft began utilizing TV White Spaces to offer affordable wireless broadband to university students and faculty. Consequently, these connective opportunities not only facilitated digital inclusion but also helped the participants access Windows 8 device and service packages. This pilot targeted the University of Dar es Salaam among other educational institutions, and witnessed significant success. Evolved versions of similar project partnerships have unfolded in Singapore and Virginia in the United States.

Understanding the TV White Space Phenomenon

TV White Spaces represent unused frequencies within a licensed spectrum. These spectrums, which work on low frequencies, enable signals to traverse long distances. They are left unutilized, often to avoid interference across frequencies. To ease understanding, imagine having a wave across a limited space, say X1, and then ten of these waves, up to X10, across well-defined spaces. If X1 ends exactly where X2 starts, and this pattern continues to X10, there will ultimately be signal interference across the entire space from X1 to X10. But, by allocating some extra space in between each of the frequencies from X1 to X10, interference is avoidable. These leftover gaps are referred to as the White Spaces. Over the years, researchers have discovered techniques to harness these unused spaces for broadband service provision, a strategy that Microsoft now champions globally, in partnership with local companies and startups.

In 2013, Nigeria also revealed a similar program through its former Minister for Communications Dr. (Mrs.) Mobola Johnson who announced the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) plans. The NCC aimed to license partner companies for one year to explore the probability of utilizing TV White Spaces to enhance the government’s rural broadband program. Although there have not been many follow-up reports since then, Nigeria stands to greatly benefit from such partnerships to lastingly ameliorate the broadband access for its people. Despite a relatively affordable data plan rate compared to other African nations, the broadband penetration in Nigeria is disappointingly low at just 12%. Yet it is important to clarify that this figure only accounts for mobile data offered by telecom operators. Broadband services for home and industrial use still pose a financial challenge for most Nigerians.