A new trial led by UK regulator Ofcom will begin soon, with major technology companies including Google and Microsoft taking part. The trial will use “white space” — unused portions of the broadcast spectrum — to test mobile broadband, environmental and traffic sensors, and public WiFi services.
About 20 organisations will participate, each pursuing different objectives. For example, BT and white-space specialist Neul will collaborate with the Department for Transport to explore how this spectrum could improve traffic information systems. Microsoft plans to offer free WiFi in Glasgow, a city with one of the lowest broadband take-up rates in the UK.
It is notable that both Google and Microsoft have recently joined the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), which suggests their involvement in the UK trial may align with wider efforts to promote affordable connectivity worldwide.
The A4AI describes itself as “a coalition of private sector, public sector, and not-for-profit organisations” working to advance affordable access to both mobile and fixed-line internet in developing countries. The World Wide Web Foundation serves as the alliance’s secretariat. A4AI’s stated primary goal is to help implement the UN Broadband Commission target that entry-level broadband services should cost less than 5% of average monthly income, with a particular focus on increasing access in low-income countries.
Although the UK is not considered a developing country, trials in the UK can still produce valuable lessons and technologies that transfer to regions with limited connectivity. Conversely, experience from projects in developing regions can inform approaches in the UK.
Free WiFi in Glasgow could help raise awareness and demand for broadband services, encouraging higher adoption rates or more competitive pricing. Introducing residents to reliable, low-cost connectivity can influence consumer expectations and political priorities for broader infrastructure investment.
One major technical advantage of white-space spectrum is its propagation characteristics. Operating at lower frequencies than typical WiFi, white-space signals travel farther and penetrate obstacles more effectively. That extended range makes white-space technology well suited for covering large areas, connecting sensors and devices across urban and rural environments, and reducing the number of access points required to serve a community.
White-space trials can explore a range of practical applications beyond public internet access: smart-city sensors for traffic and environmental monitoring, long-range machine-to-machine links, and enhanced rural broadband options. Each use case can reveal performance characteristics and regulatory considerations that inform future deployments.
Regulatory oversight will be important to ensure white-space access does not interfere with incumbent broadcast users and that devices operate safely and reliably. Trials governed by Ofcom provide a structured environment to test coexistence mechanisms, database-driven spectrum management, and technical standards before wider commercial rollouts.
Lessons from these pilots will help stakeholders assess real-world costs, infrastructure requirements, and user behavior, informing policy and investment choices. They will also support efforts to extend affordable connectivity to underserved areas both in the UK and internationally.
What do you think of the white-space trials in the UK and elsewhere?