The 1755-1780 MHz Band Ideal for Wireless Broadband, Industry Tells FCC
The 1755-1780 MHz band is ideal for wireless broadband, and should be reallocated as quickly as possible, CTIA, 4G Americas and the carriers filing comments told the FCC. The band has been identified by NTIA as its top priority for evaluation. Carriers have long sought to have the band paired with the AWS-3 spectrum for eventual auction. The FCC’s Spectrum Task Force had sought comment on various bands identified by NTIA as potentially suitable for wireless broadband. Comments were due Friday.
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Industry filers were far less enthusiastic about the other bands identified by NTIA for possible reallocation: 1695-1710 MHz, 3550-3650 MHz, 4200-4220 MHz and 4380-4400 MHz. CTIA called the 1755-1780 MHz band “the most logical and promising spectrum band” available for reallocation for licensed use. The entire 1710-1885 MHz band was identified by the ITU for commercial wireless uses and “its selection would promote international spectrum harmonization,” CTIA said. It’s also adjacent to the AWS-1 band (1710-1755 MHz), the group noted. The band is now used by the Department of Defense and other government users, none of whom weighed in with comments. Carriers already have lots of experience working with government users as they move to other spectrum, CTIA said. “Many of the federal users in the 1755-1780 MHz band are the same parties involved in relocation from the AWS-1 spectrum, and the wireless industry has developed strong and current relationships with the affected parties.”
The 1780-1850 MHz band also should be looked at more closely for wireless broadband, CTIA said. The 1675-1710 MHz band may offer some promise, but isn’t internationally harmonized for mobile broadband, the group said. The bands above 3 GHz “are unlikely to be useful for mobile services due to propagation issues in the near-term,” CTIA said.
"Internationally harmonized spectrum is more likely to result in equipment that has benefitted from global economies of scale and scope, as well as innovation,” 4G Americas said, in similar arguments at the commission. The 1755-1780 MHz band “is regionally and internationally harmonized spectrum for mobile broadband,” the group said. The spectrum overlaps in part what has been identified on more global scale as 3GPP Band 10, it noted. “With a critical mass of global vendors and operators developing network equipment and devices to operate in Band 10, equipment will be readily available in this important band.”
AT&T called 1755-1780 MHz “the best candidate” for reallocation for wireless broadband use of any identified by NTIA. “It is harmonized internationally to leverage global economies of scale and would be the most effective pairing with the AWS-3 band,” the carrier said. “None of the other bands identified by NTIA come close to providing the same bang for the buck. … None could be deployed as rapidly, or at a lower cost.”
MetroPCS urged the FCC and NTIA to move quickly to make spectrum below 3 GHz available for broadband. “Without additional spectrum, the industry will be forced to further consolidate, as licensees will have an inadequate amount of spectrum to construct networks with sufficient capacity to compete with better heeled competitors,” the carrier said.
TIA said the 1675-1710 MHz band should be reallocated for commercial wireless broadband use. “Its adjacency to the AWS-1 band is encouraging, and likely to reduce interference concerns between the bands,” TIA said. The government should continue to look at use of bands above 3 GHz, but because of their “physical characteristics” they are not “an immediate fix to the spectrum crisis,” the group said.
Multiple satellite operators use spectrum in the 3600-3650 MHz band “to satisfy the demands of military, commercial and government customers,” and the FCC must ensure that their operations aren’t disrupted, said the Satellite Industry Association. Intelsat has 12 satellites with that use some or all of the 3600-3650 MHz band, and SES World Skies has four satellites that serve the U.S. in the band, the SIA said. “Explicit protections,” such as power and emission limits, will be necessary if the commission decides to introduce terrestrial operations in the band, the association said. At the very least, the agency should apply the same protections as were adopted when the 3650-3700 MHz band was reallocated, said the association. It said terrestrial operations in the band should be monitored by the FCC, and the agency should make clear coordination certifications will be subject to enforcement action.
While satellite doesn’t use the 4200-4220 MHz band, there are adjacent C-band downlink frequencies in the 3700-4200 MHz band that are “intensively used for satellite operation,” SIA said. It said the FCC should adopt interference rules to prevent satellite signal disruption, if the agency reallocates the 4200-4220 MHz band.