WorldCom Inc. moved one step closer to officially jumping into the wireless broadband game by filing last week its first round of applications with the Federal Communications Commission to offer fixed wireless broadband services in more than 60 markets nationwide, beginning with Memphis during the fourth quarter.
Sprint Corp., the other major holder of multichannel multipoint distribution service spectrum in the United States, commercially launched its fixed wireless services in Phoenix in May, followed closely by Tucson in July, under developmental authorization by the FCC.
“We had filed for a number of our licenses before the window opened. We … will be launching in Colorado Springs, (Colo.), Houston and Detroit next. In the fourth quarter we will be entering the California and Texas markets,” said Russ Robinson, director of corporate communications for Sprint.
Licensing authority is required in each of WorldCom’s 160 markets before commercial services can be launched. Complete applications will be placed on public notice for a 60-day period, if no petitions to deny are filed, the application will be granted, WorldCom said.
“Our applications move us one step closer to market launch,” said John Stupka, president of WorldCom Wireless Solutions, in a statement. “We’ll work with the FCC and other spectrum holders to make this a speedy and smooth licensing process.”
As both WorldCom and Sprint roll out services using spectrum in the 2.5 GHz to 2.7 GHz frequency bands, the question looms as to what might happen if the 2.5 GHz band is designated by members of the International Telecommunication Union for future third-generation mobile services.
At the World Radiocommunication Conference held in Turkey in April and May, delegates from around the world set aside three global bands-806 MHz-960 MHz, 1710 MHz-1885 MHz and 2110 MHz-2200 MHz-for 3G services. The European Union also sought priority allocation for the 2.5 GHz band but was denied.
Charles Dziedzic, assistant chief of the video services division at the FCC, noted that no official decision was made at WRC-2000 as to which spectrum would actually be used for 3G, but he did say that “what most of the Western hemisphere has decided to use is the 1700 MHz spectrum.”
The 1.7 GHz band currently is used extensively by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Dziedzic said the commission will conduct a rule-making proceeding about what spectrum will be used for 3G wireless at a later time. Indeed, studies are being conducted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the FCC to ascertain what spectrum would be best, and to consider sharing possibilities.
Neither WorldCom nor Sprint expressed deep concern over the fate of their MMDS spectrum. Robinson said, however, that Sprint was aware of the movement to repurpose the 2.5 GHz band and is involved in its potential outcome.
“We are actively talking with the FCC and we have people in Washington voicing our concerns for us,” Robinson said.
WorldCom said the U.S. government has been very supportive in preserving the 2.5 GHz band, and once the company establishes nationwide wireless broadband services, it will be very difficult to reallocate the spectrum for anything else.
“Once we deploy fixed wireless service, that service is incompatible with mobile service. We wouldn’t even be able to provide mobile without interfering with our own fixed service,” said Bob Koppell, vice president of wireless regulatory affairs for WorldCom.
