The provision of adequate broadband access to communities in sparsely populated rural areas has in the past been severely restricted. In this article, we present a wireless broadband access testbed running in the Scottish Highlands and Islands which is based on a relay network of low-power base stations. Base stations are powered by a combination of renewable sources creating a low cost and scalable solution suitable for community ownership. The use of the 5 GHz bands allows the network to offer large data rates and the testing of ultra high frequency "white space" bands provides expansive coverage whilst reducing the number of base stations or required transmission power. We argue that the reliance on renewable power and the intelligent use of frequency bands makes this approach an economic green radio technology which can address the problem of rural broadband access.
The use of multiple frequency bands within a wireless network allows the advantages of each band to be exploited. In this paper we discuss how "HopScotch", a rural wireless broadband access test bed running in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, uses both 5 GHz and ultra high frequency "white space" bands to offer large data rates and expansive coverage whilst reducing the number of base stations or required transmission power. This reduction in energy consumption allows HopScotch to provide a low-cost and green solution for rural broadband delivery.
We present a white space communications test bed running in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, and discuss its feasibility for smart grid communications. The network aims to serve communities that have great potential for distributed generation of electricity, by means of wind, water, and tidal power. However, smart grid applications such as remote meter reading and load balancing are impaired by the scarcity or lack of communications infrastructure in remote rural areas such as the Scottish Highlands and Islands. We argue that the proposed system is based on a network of energy self-sufficient radio relay nodes that make it a robust and independent medium to support smart grid communications in rural settings
Wireless radio links present one option for rural broadband where population is sparse and many of the existing technologies such as optical fiber or broadband via DSL are not economical due to rugged/mountainous terrain. In this paper, we present a broadband test bed running in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, and discuss its feasibility for broadband access. In addition to a 5GHz network, the test-bed also provides an overlay UHF white space network sharing the same infrastructure. We argue that the proposed system is based on a network of energy self-sufficient radio relay nodes that makes it a robust and independent medium to support broadband communication in rural settings
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