IEEE Approves 802.22 Standard (aka Super Wi-Fi)

Posted 07/29/2011 at 6:15am | by Pulkit Chanda

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Last September, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formalized a set of technical rules for the use of unused broadcast spectrum between TV frequencies (also known as “white space”), paving the way for what is being dubbed Super Wi-Fi. However, one final formality still remained: the finalization of the new wireless standard.

Now that, too, is out of the way. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has published the IEEE 802.22 standard, more popularly known as Super Wi-Fi, for Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs).

From the press release: “This new standard for Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs) takes advantage of the favorable transmission characteristics of the VHF and UHF TV bands to provide broadband wireless access over a large area up to 100 km from the transmitter. Each WRAN will deliver up to 22 Mbps per channel without interfering with reception of existing TV broadcast stations, using the so-called white spaces between the occupied TV channels.

IEEE 802.22 incorporates advanced cognitive radio capabilities including dynamic spectrum access, incumbent database access, accurate geolocation techniques, spectrum sensing, regulatory domain dependent policies, spectrum etiquette, and coexistence for optimal use of the available spectrum.”