Verizon, Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies said they completed the first successful frequency division duplexing massive MIMO trial with a fully compatible customer device. The three companies said they used the latest Ericsson massive MIMO software and hardware on Verizon's network, plus a mobile test device using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform. “Massive MIMO is a key technology component in the evolution towards 5G,” said a Wednesday news release. “It has the potential of greatly improving network capacity and the customer's experience.” The test relied on transmission mode 9, which is designed to help reduce interference between base stations while maximizing signal stability and boosting performance.
AT&T is seeking permission from the FCC to demo 5G's “functionality and capabilities” in the 3.5 GHz band in Washington. AT&T filed for special temporary authority to use the band for six months on an experimental basis at 601 New Jersey Ave. NW, the site of the AT&T Forum for Technology, Entertainment & Policy. “The demonstrations using this STA will provide valuable information to potential users whose feedback on the perceived performance of services provided through these 5G systems will also enable future standards and system optimizations,” AT&T told the FCC.
Panasonic North America urged the FCC to protect vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications in the 5.9 GHz band. The FCC is looking at whether to allow Wi-Fi to share the band (see 1707250049), using spectrum set aside for dedicated short-range communications technology. Panasonic said, in a filing in docket 17-183, it supports efforts by the FCC and Department of Transportation to evaluate sharing, but they “should not consider any sharing arrangements that would degrade V2X communications in the 5.9 GHz band or require re-channelization that would delay implementation of V2X technology and its associated safety benefits.”
Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler, meeting with FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, backed issuing an NPRM based on the company's joint proposal with Intel for opening parts of the C-band to terrestrial 5G operations (see 1710020047), said a docket 17-183 filing posted Tuesday. Intelsat, along with Intel, also talked with Chairman Ajit Pai's office (see 1712040062).
The FCC Enforcement Bureau said Lumenier agreed to pay $180,000 and institute a compliance plan to end investigation of the company’s alleged sale of noncompliant audio/visual transmitters for use with drones, in a consent decree. The noncompliant transmitters “could operate in bands that are reserved for Federal government and other important operations, including Federal Aviation Administration airport operations and satellite communications,” the bureau said. “Some of the AV transmitters also operated at power levels that exceeded limits set by the Commission’s rules.” The closely held company acknowledged it violated equipment authorization and marketing rules and didn’t comment further.
President Donald Trump unveiled a U.S. national security strategy Monday that includes a commitment to “improve America’s digital infrastructure by deploying a secure 5G Internet capability nationwide.” A White House report on the strategy briefly mentions its 5G deployment proposal to “increase national competitiveness, benefit the environment, and improve our quality of life.” House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said she's “encouraged to hear the president’s national security strategy includes a pledge to deploy 5G wireless services nationwide.” House Communications held a hearing on 5G last month amid discussions about a draft bill from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, that would encourage deployments by easing siting requirements (see 1710310057, 1711160058 and 1711240024). Lawmakers “will continue to work to unleash spectrum and support the development of 5G networks,” Blackburn said in a statement. “The 5G revolution is here, and I look forward to working alongside the administration to ensure America remains a leader in technology and innovation.” CTIA is “pleased” Trump’s strategy “acknowledges the critical importance of next-generation 5G wireless to maintaining America’s competitiveness,” said President Meredith Baker. “We are locked in a race with countries such as China and Russia to be the first to deploy 5G. To win this race we need government to make more spectrum available to industry and modernize the rules governing the deployment of wireless infrastructure.”
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology gave the NFL special temporary authority Friday to use TV channels 15 and 16 outside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for the Feb. 4 Super Bowl, agency records show. The channels are “unused” in the area around the stadium, and the league needs them “to conduct two-way radio communications for logistical, security, public safety, media and operational purposes before, during and shortly after” the game, said its application.
Leidos received a two-year experimental license to test functionality and evaluate the performance of the ViaSat VR-18 satcom terminal installed on de Havilland 8 aircraft. Leidos said it will test the aircraft-mounted antenna for system reliability and performance in the Ku-band, with that testing supporting the use of such antenna on aircraft supporting DOD intelligence operations. The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology approved the license Wednesday.
The Aerospace & Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council told the FCC talks are underway among representatives of the aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) industry, FAA and WiMAX Forum on coordination between AMT and the aeronautical mobile airport communications system (AeroMACS) at airports located with aerospace manufacturing plants. AMT representatives gave the FAA a draft test plan, said a filing in RM-11793.
AT&T proposed a plan for a high-frequency spectrum auction to consolidate spectrum holdings, especially in the 39 GHz band, one of the first set for sale. A challenge to millimeter wave bidding is that incumbents have holdings “scattered throughout the band, typically in 50 MHz chunks,” blogged Hank Hultquist, vice president-federal regulatory. “Incumbents hold different types of geographic licenses that in many cases overlay each other. In order for the auction to be successful, the FCC must find a way to reorganize the band into block sizes that are more favorable for 5G, ideally 200 MHz blocks, and maximize the number of blocks.” AT&T proposed vouchers to incumbent licensees based on number of MHz/POPs they hold. Values would be set by bidding in the allocation phase. Hultquist said Tuesday the plan puts licensees on a level playing field. “It provides an elegant solution to the mish-mash of existing holdings in a way that maximizes the value and usability of the band,” he wrote. “By guaranteeing contiguity to successful bidders, the proposal allows winning bidders to maximize the bandwidth that will ultimately be available to consumers.” FCC officials say they can hold no major spectrum auctions until Congress approves legislative language that would let auction deposits be sent directly to the Treasury Department (see 1710240065). AT&T laid out the plan in a paper filed Tuesday in docket 14-177, by economists James Bono and Allan Ingraham of Economists Inc.