Singapore begins pilot deployments of Super Wi-Fi

SINGAPORE - Singapore announced Wednesday its first series of commercial pilot deployments of the co-called "Super Wi-Fi" networks.

The "Super Wi-Fi" was first named by the United States Federal Communications Commission for unused TV broadcast frequency bands, known as "white spaces", which is planned to use for the creation of longer-distance wireless internet.

It is able to travel over longer distances and penetrate more obstacles, like trees, buildings and bodies of water, comparing with the traditional Wi-Fi. The name "Super Wi-Fi" can " translate to better coverage, lower power consumption and reduced network costs", Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research said in a statement.

By using the unused broadcasting spectrum, the government can reduce the tension caused by explosive growth of wireless data traffic.

The trial is firstly conducted in Singapore Island Country Club, Changi and the National University of Singapore by a local group comprising Microsoft, StarHub and the city-state's Institute for Infocomm Research, targeting to explore and promote the use of "Super Wi-Fi" to deliver commercial wireless broadband services.