Exploring TV white spaces for the mitigation of AIS weaknesses

Ship Reporting Systems (SRSs) are aimed at a safer sailing, by providing a timely description of the sea traffic. Automatic Identification System (AIS) is the most known SRS and works in the VHF band: given the limited available bandwidth, AIS mainly addresses pure line-of-sight scenarios and neglects security aspects. Specifically to overcome the current limitations of AIS and make it more robust and reliable, new solutions are being investigated. This paper explores for the first time the potential role of white-space frequencies as an auxiliary channel, bearing Out-Of-Band signals required to make AIS more versatile. The simulation analyses confirm the applicability of this band and outline possible future studies and activities.