Evaluation of TVWS Availability: A Step Towards Frequency Spectrum Utilization

Abstract

In this era, there are several multimedia applications have been developed. These multimedia applications occupy more bandwidth, thus resulting in the scarcity of frequency spectrum necessary to cater to the bandwidth requirements of these applications. The scarcity may also stem from the licensed spectrum being under-utilized. The unused licensed frequency spectrum in the TV band is known as TV white space. In the coming years, which are expected to feature improved multimedia applications, the need for optimal frequency spectrum utilization of the unused licensed spectrum becomes necessary. This study evaluates the availability of Television White Space (TVWS) in Ondo State radio vision-television station in Akure, south western Nigeria. Outdoor spectrum measurement was carried out in the frequency bands of the licensed networks ranging from 470 MHz – 960MHz. Measurement and computational approach using tiny spectrum Analyzer and protection viewpoint computational method was used for easy detection and analysis of the unused spectrum as well as calculating the radius of protection of the primary user. The study permits the assessment of Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum in the UHF band in Akure and its environments, as well as providing measures for harnessing the unused RF resources. The results obtained show that 71.05% of the 38 channels were unused. The rate of spectrum occupancy was discovered to be very low, thus giving room for unused spectrum spaces in the UHF frequency band which can be used to provide security surveillance.