Satellite Operators Push for 47, 50 GHz Sub-band Approach for 5G Sharing
Dividing the 47 GHz and 50 GHz bands into four sub-bands will let fixed satellite services (FSS) safely share that spectrum with upper microwave flexible use (UMFUS) systems' 5G operations, satellite operators said in a docket 14-177 FCC filing Thursday.…
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For the 47.2-48.2 GHz band, now designated for terrestrial wireless use, UMFUS would keep primary position in the band but FSS would be allowed to share via individually licensed earth stations deployed on a protected basis, the operators proposed. The 48.2-50.2 GHz band would remain designated primarily for FSS uplinks. For 50.4-51.4 GHz, allocated on a co-primary basis to FSS, mobile and fixed services, though not used now by any of those services, UMFUS would be designated as primary in densely populated areas, while elsewhere, UMFUS and FSS should be designated as co-primaries. They said the 51.4-52.4 band should receive similar treatment. Behind the proposal are EchoStar and its Hughes Network Systems, Intelsat, Inmarsat and OneWeb. OneWeb is joining with Intelsat.