More wireless power for UK countryside

Wireless broadband connections in hard to reach places in the UK may be in line for a power boost after industry regulator Ofcom freed up regulations.

Transmitters had been capped at an output of two watts around the 5.8 GHz radio spectrum which are popular for wireless providers, but now service providers are allowed to pump out the signal at double the power.

This means that the reach of wireless broadband will extend to reach into poorly served areas of the country, allowing improved access to internet services like VoIP while on the move or at home.

"This is an extremely welcome move that will help service providers reach remote communities poorly served by incumbent technologies," said Anthony Fulgoni, a spokesman for UK wireless broadband supplier Proxim.

"There is a strong determination to close the digital divide in communities nationwide and wireless technologies are the best solution for achieving this goal for home and business users."

The power boost will also apply to Wi-Fi services which make use of the frequency band, such as those using WiMax or the city-wide network set up earlier this year in Norwich.

Posted on: 2007-06-04, in: Broadband

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