CTIA VP said the move will be ‘critical’ to developing 5G, IoT
WASHINGTON – Following its October open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission discussion on opening up new spectrum is being well-received by the telecom industry.
The FCC issued of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making aimed at opening up spectrum above 24 gigahertz. Under the proposed rules, the FCC hopes to create flexible use service rules in the 28 GHz, 37 GHz, 39 GHz and the 64-71 GHz bands. The proposal also considers making spectrum use more flexible with licensed, unlicensed and shared approaches. The NPRM further seeks to provide a path for a variety of platforms to coexist, including the increased use of satellites.
Scott Bergmann, VP of regulatory affairs at CTIA, said the group “commends the commission on today’s important step to free up additional spectrum so that the U.S. remains the world’s mobile leader. It will play a critical role in the U.S. wireless industry’s migration to 5G. Today’s action also reminds us that the diversity of 5G applications will require a broad range of spectrum types, including low- and medium-band spectrum, below 3 GHz and between 3 and 6 GHz, as well as streamlined infrastructure siting and more backhaul. The move to bring to market high-band spectrum in bands above 24 GHz offers the potential for increased capacity and speeds, lower lag time and high-density connections to unleash the ‘Internet of Things.’ We look forward to working with the Commission to address a flexible framework for service in these bands that encourages continued investment and innovation to deliver the next waves of connected wireless applications.”
Telecommunications Industry Association CEO Scott Belcher said, “Enabling broadband in higher bands of spectrum will allow emerging technologies to develop further, including next-generation 5G networks. However, efforts to open additional lower-band spectrum will also be required to enable the potential of 5G and the Internet of Things.”
The high band spectrum the FCC is looking to open could be a key plank of future 5G systems, but IoT traffic could also use lower frequency systems such as Wi-Fi.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler addressed the potential new spectrum rules in an Oct. 1 blog.
“This NPRM proposes a framework for flexible spectrum use rules for bands above 24 GHz, including for mobile broadband use. Promoting flexible, dynamic spectrum use has been the bedrock that has helped the United States become a world leader in wireless,” Wheeler wrote.
“We are leveraging regulatory advances and propose to use market-based mechanisms that will allow licensees to provide any service – fixed, mobile, private, commercial, and satellite – depending on the band, and allow unlicensed uses to continue to expand,” he continued. “We are proposing to create a space that leverages the properties of this high band spectrum to simultaneously meet the needs of different users.”
