The ICT Office of the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ICT Office) and Microsoft Philippines recently agreed to collaborate on TV White Space (TVWS) projects.
The two parties are seeking to utilize the technologies to address connectivity issues in unserved areas of the country as well as provide data connectivity for essential government services.
The DOST ICT-Office launched its TV White Space Initiative last year to find ways of maximizing unutilized TV frequencies for data communications.
Possible applications include government services such as e-learning, telehealth and telemedicine, environmental sensors such as those used by the DOST’s NOAH project, as well as basic internet access for areas outside commercial telco coverage.
“We are pleased that the private sector is supportive of our TVWS program, as we definitely need them in helping the narrow the digital divide. Microsoft in particular has been on board from the very start and we are pleased to have formalized this partnership on TVWS,” said DOST Undersecretary Louis Casambre of the ICT Office.
The Philippines is only the fourth country in the world to have a government initiated program for TV White Space Technology, following Singapore, South Africa and Kenya.