Remote areas could connect to the online world through FM radio

RURAL areas with limited access to broadband could be provided with the service via the FM radio frequency – after major radio stations have migrated to digital channels.

Communications regulator Ofcom said that the expected switch to digital radio would free up as much as half of the capacity currently used to de-liver FM radio services.

It is anticipated that all large- scale radio stations will migrate to digital and eventually cease to broadcast on analogue FM radio. Smaller stations are expected to remain on FM.

Speaking at the Radio Centre members’ conference yesterday, Ofcom chief executive, Ed Richards, identified White Space Devices as potential new users of the freed-up FM radio airwaves. These devices could use these frequencies to deliver innovative applications such as mobile broadband in very sparsely populated areas.

“This seems to us to be a potentially creative solution that would not only use spectrum to its full capacity, but would also work along side existing smaller FM radio stations,” said Mr Richards. “This could be done without causing interference and work in harmony with the aim of switchover from a radio perspective.”

Ofcom has been leading the way in Europe to develop a system that would allow these devices to work without interfering with other users of spectrum.

To date, this has focused on using the white spaces between digital TV channels.

However, in practice, this technology could also work in the FM radio band.

“There must be certainty for smaller and community stations,” added Mr Richards.

“These will continue to play their important role, and FM is an appropriate technology for the scale at which they operate.”