Microsoft to bring White Spaces technology to AP

Global technology giant Microsoft will be working with Andhra Pradesh government to implement TV White Spaces technology on a pilot basis in Srikakulam district. White Spaces is a technology that 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 Telecom (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 R&D managing director Anil Bhansali, national technology officer Prashant Shukla and other executives of the company today met with chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at his camp office in Vijayawada in this regard.

White Spaces technology, which was partly developed by Microsoft Research, dynamically allocates unused bands to internet broad band transmission while regular TV transmissions go on uninterrupted.

Highlighting the potential of TV White Spaces, the chief minister said the project will help in the last-mile connectivity. While Wi-Fi has a range of about 100 meters the 200-300 MHz spectrum band available in the White Space can reach up to 10 kms, according to a statement.

Microsoft has already conducted similar pilots in a number of African nations including Namibia, Kenya and South Africa besides other countries like Singapore.

"I have always experimented with technology to take services and welfare programmes to people. With this pilot, Microsoft has shown that innovation and technology can make society technologically advanced, eventually creating a knowledge-based economy," chief minister Naidu said.

Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman, Microsoft India, said,"We have been a strong adovocate of TV White Space technology 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.

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

" Mr Naidu believes that the machine-learning has far reaching impact for gathering insights and taking corrective actions in various sectors,"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".