TV White Space (TVWS) trial in Oman: Phase one (Technical)

In this paper, we present the Sultanate of Oman's technical Television White Space (TVWS) trial details, results, analysis and recommendations. The trial has been conducted by Oman Broadband Company (OBC) with the cooperation of Oman's' Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA). The trial established a TVWS network made up of two TVWS Base Stations (TVWSBSs) and four sets of TVWS Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE) located between 4 and 10 km distance from the TVWSBSs. The two TVWSBSs were connected to the internet via a fibre link and connected to CPEs through UHF link. In turn, the CPEs were connected to a UHF-Wi-Fi converter and eventually to a Wi-Fi Hot Spot (HS) serving local users with internet service. The maximum data throughput achieved for Down Link (DL) was 16 Mbps and 11.6 Mbps for Up Link (UL), whilst the average DL and UL were found to be 5.21 Mbps and 2.3 Mbps, respectively. Therefore, the trial has proven the capability of extending wireless broadband internet service to rural areas of Oman, which has lagged behind in such service due to the difficult geography and terrain of the country.