White space radio takes advantage of unused TV channels as broadcasters switch from analogue to digital TV. Signals in these frequencies can travel long distances and will even pene-trate walls. An enterprising start-up company, Neul, has teamed up with California based firm Carlson to develop a system which it hopes will allow the machine to machine white space wireless systems to be used to provide broadband more cost effectively in rural areas of the world.

The technology is especially effective in sparsely populated areas and rugged terrain, giving rural communities real-time access to the business op-portunities and educational resources the internet has to offer. Millions of people around the globe do not currently have access to decent broadband at affordable prices.