Andhra Pradesh government has partnered with Microsoft for the TV White Space Project. The project is based on a technology that utilises unused space in terrestrial TV spectrum to provide cheap internet connectivity to remote areas without interrupting the regular TV transmissions. The technology propagates the signals to a radius of 10 km or more, unlike Wi-Fi, which propogates the signals only to a 100-metre radius. Further, the technology can also be used during emergency or disaster scenarios.
Microsoft is implementing the project on a pilot basis in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The company has already conducted this project in countries like Ghana, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya and Singapore.