NEW ORLEANS-Sprint Corp.’s Broadband Wireless Group and WorldCom Inc. revealed the first details of the Breckenridge Agreement, a document established to ensure the cooperation of wireless broadband carriers building systems in adjacent markets.
The agreement encompasses carriers operating in the multichannel multipoint distribution service, multipoint distribution service, instructional television fixed service and wireless communications service frequencies.
At these frequencies-2.1 GHz and 2.5 GHz to 2.7 GHz-signals can reach up to a 35-mile radius. However, because radio-frequency signals in these bands can propagate further than 35 miles, interference sometimes occurs between different carriers operating next to each other.
The agreement establishes a new standard that lowers the acceptable interference range from 45 dB d/u to 32 dB d/u. It also specifies adjustments for each service provider to make when interference begins to impact overlapping protected service areas, the companies said.
“In the past, there was a lot of contention between some wireless service providers who could not see past their operating boundaries. As a result of this fragmentation, a great deal of time was consumed trying to work out agreements with neighboring market operators,” said Todd Rowley, vice president of spectrum management for Sprint’s Broadband Wireless Group.
“The Breckenridge Agreement is important because it brings back the primary focus on cooperation and working together as an industry and will enable us to regain valuable momentum in the race against wireline broadband service providers, which have made significant strides in rolling out high-speed services such as DSL (digital subscriber line) and cable modems,” Rowley said.
Sprint and WorldCom said the agreement will not be a nationwide band plan, but rather guidelines for how operators will designate frequency bands based on spectrum availability and licensing considerations.
More than 12 companies have agreed to participate in the agreement, including Nucentrix Broadband Networks Inc., New England Wireless and American Rural Television.
