Piscataway, NJ - Aug 1, 2011 - The IEEE announced its new standard, 802.22, or WRAN (Wireless Regional Area Network). This new networking technology will make use of whitespace spectrum in the VHF and UHF TV bands to provide broadband access over an area encompassing as much as 12,000 square miles (or a radius of 60 miles around the base station location). According to the IEEE, each WRAN will provide a data rate as fast as 22Mb/s per channel, while not interfering with the OTA reception of local TV broadcast transmissions. IEEE also asserts that this technology will be "especially useful" for serving less densely populated rural areas, where there are fewer TV channel allocations.

IEEE 802.22 incorporates advanced cognitive radio capabilities including dynamic spectrum access, incumbent database access, accurate geolocation techniques, spectrum sensing, regulatory domain dependent policies, spectrum etiquette and coexistence for optimal use of the available spectrum.