Microsoft to bring White Spaces technology to AP

White Spaces is a technology that uses unused television terrestrial spectrum to deliver low cost internet connectivity

Global technology firm Microsoft will be working with the Andhra Pradesh government to implement the TV White Spaces technology on a pilot basis in the Srikakulam district.  White Spaces uses unused television terrestrial spectrum to deliver low-cost internet connectivity.  

This is the first time this technology is being used in India. Along with Microsoft, other agencies, including the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), are working with the government to bring low-cost internet connectivity to four educational institutions in this remote north coastal district under this pilot project.

Microsoft India research and development managing director Anil Bhansali; national technology officer Prashant Shukla and other executives on Friday met chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at his camp office in Vijayawada.

White Spaces, partly developed by Microsoft, allocates unused bands to internet broadband transmission while regular TV transmissions go on uninterrupted.

The chief minister said the project will help last-mile connectivity.

While Wi-Fi has a range of about 100 metres, the 200 to 300 megahertz spectrum band available in White Spaces can reach up to 10 kilometres.

Microsoft has already conducted similar pilots in African nations Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa, and Singapore.  

"I have always experimented with the technology to take services and welfare programmes to people," Naidu said.

Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman, Microsoft India, said, “We have been a strong advocate of TV White Spaces and firmly believe it can be the affordable answer to last-mile connectivity challenges in India.” According to Pramanik, this technology can also be used during emergency or disaster scenarios.

The Microsoft team also presented a cloud-based machine learning solution they have built in collaboration with the department of primary education to help predict student dropouts. This technology has helped make required interventions in bringing down the dropout rates in schools, according to the government.

"Naidu believes machine-learning has far-reaching impact on gathering insights and taking corrective action in various sectors," the chief minister's office said.

Bhansali said the machine-learning technology can enable both educator and students in making insightful decisions by analysing large volumes of data. "It also offers the potential to transform the future of skilled work force in India".