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Author Archives: Kurt Schaubach

 About Kurt Schaubach

Kurt Schaubach brings 25 years of wireless industry experience to Federated Wireless where he plays a key role in developing technologies and new business strategies to create the next-generation architecture of broadband wireless.
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A Path to Protection for Existing Users in the 3.65 GHz band

In April of last year, the FCC enacted rules for Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).  As a result, existing wireless broadband services in 3650 – 3700 MHz are required to transition to the new CBRS rules. However, during the transition period from the old Part 90 rules to the new Part 96 CBRS rules, the existing users will receive protection from harmful interference due to the new uses of the band. To secure this protection, these grandfathered licensees will have to register their sites with the CBRS database administrator and secure a “protection zone” for their grandfathered operations.

While grandfathered users of the 3.65 GHz band, can continue to operate their networks in their current state for several years, there are many reasons why a grandfathered licensee would want to transition to the new CBRS rules now.  At the heart of the CBRS rules, the FCC has required employment of a Spectrum Access System (SAS) to authorize and manage the use of CBRS spectrum. The SAS will protect higher tier operations, like grandfathered licensees, from interference and also maximize frequency capacity for all CBRS operators.

By connecting to a SAS before the grandfather period expires, existing users can:

  • Continue to deploy networks and related services
  • Ensure interference free operations
  • Access up to 5x the amount of spectrum allowed under the current regime

With a SAS connection, users can continue to expand and evolve their networks and related services; for example, moving or adding a new radio outside their current protection zone. Additionally, connection to the SAS would provide interference free managed access to spectrum resources ensuring high service levels.  Lastly, connecting to a SAS will enable revenue opportunities that exist thanks to to increased amounts of spectrum as well as access to a growing CBRS ecosystem alliance of suppliers.

Federated Wireless can help you understand what options exist for you within the 3.65 GHz band. If you want to learn more, contact us today.

Spectrum Sharing Technologies: Paving the Way to 5G

Recently, Federated Wireless commented on the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to make the centimeter and millimeter wave spectrum available for the future of wireless networks. The proposal, which addresses the use of bands above 24 GHz, proposes the use of a Spectrum Access System in the 28 GHz band as well as a hybrid approach to the 37 GHz band and has the ability to directly benefit carriers when implemented.  Federated Wireless enthusiastically believes that this is the correct approach for the deployment of these bands and is looking forward to highlighting how new spectrum management techniques, first leveraged for the 3.5 GHz Band, can bring the revolutionary effects of spectrum sensing and dynamic spectrum databases to other bands.

Although carriers have argued for traditional approaches – contending that anything other would delay 5G implementations — we have to caution that traditional approaches have taken years, even decades, to implement due to auctions, creation of standards, and the development and manufacturing of equipment and devices. The Federal Government has acknowledged the great potential that managed spectrum sharing technologies hold for the future of spectrum management. The increase in the utilization factor would provide the capacity necessary for 5G.

As such, we believe that widespread adoption of spectrum sharing technologies in these bands will exponentially increase the capacity of spectrum resources, future-proof regulations, protect incumbent operations, reduce interference and monitor, and enforce compliance with the Commission’s rules. If we are ready to change the future of wireless networks, embracing a spectrum sharing model is the fastest way to a 5G world.

Here is more information on the FCC proceeding.  And here is a link to Federated Wireless’ comments.

An Alliance for Innovation through the 3.5 Ghz Band

Last week, together with Google, Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm, and Ruckus Wireless, we announced a shared commitment to promote solutions in the 3.5 GHz band. This announcement continues the momentum we’ve seen for 3.5 GHz band shared spectrum over the last year. The formation of this alliance is, however, of particular significance because it is a clear sign that the industry sees the 3.5 GHz band as far more than an interesting experiment in spectrum management.  The six companies aim to build a robust technology ecosystem and make CBRS solutions as widely available as possible.  We’re thrilled with this development as it cements our belief that the 3.5 GHz band will pave the way for innovative end-to-end wireless solutions that will shape the future of wireless.

With industry leaders aligned to introduce a full ecosystem around shared spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, trials of solutions that exploit shared spectrum can now begin in 2016. The goal of these trials is to demonstrate solutions that extend and improve wireless networks in order to provide a high quality, consistent experience in even the most challenging areas to serve.  At a sporting event, a sprawling indoor shopping mall, or bustling campuses, operators will now achieve predictable coverage, capacity, and end user performance at a cost that is not achievable with current small cell or distributed antenna system technologies.

As our Spectrum Access System (SAS), which is at the heart of the emerging 3.5 GHz ecosystem, continues ahead with the FCC approval and commercialization process, we are excited to partner with companies with a deep history of innovation. We truly believe the “sky is the limit” for what a robust wireless ecosystem developed on coordinated shared spectrum will achieve.

For more information on the 3.5 GHz shared spectrum framework and the potential opportunities it creates, refer to this article.

Smart Cars and High Speed Wi-Fi on the 5.9 GHz Band

Two FCC Commissioners recently made the case that the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) band at 5.9 GHz, currently being used to test smart car technologies, had enough room to handle the growing need for high speed wireless connectivity. While there is concern from automakers that sharing this band could cause roadway dangers by interfering with vehicle communications, the FCC eloquently made the case that expanding opportunities for use of the 5.9 GHz band was the right thing to do.

Federated Wireless’ SAS technology could be readily extended to the 5.9 GHz band to enable Wi-Fi operation while alleviating concerns of automakers. By using the same principles of the 3.5 GHz band spectrum sharing framework, the SAS can proactively manage the DSRC spectrum to ensure life-critical services are not interrupted while maximizing spectrum available for high speed Wi-Fi.  Analogizing the 3.5 GHz three-tier model to 5.9 GHz systems:

  • 1. In-band satellite and radar systems can be protected as incumbents
  • 2. Road-side units could be managed and protected like PAL devices
  • 3. Key corridors for vehicle to vehicle communications can be identified and protected as exclusion or protection zones
  • 4. 5.9 GHz Wi-Fi can be managed like GAA devices

We also believe that utilizing the SAS technology would also have a number of additional benefits to the DSRC community. For example, the SAS could manage inter-jurisdictional interference in overlapping geographic areas; automatically detect and maintain misconfigured Wi-Fi devices; and reduce deployment time of DSRC Road Side Units when NTIA coordination is required by ensuring site non-interference.

As we rapidly move to a time where the need for capacity to manage Internet of Things and provide increased high speed connectivity collide, looking at ways to dynamically share spectrum is a no-brainer. New and innovative spectrum access systems are transforming how we access and manage spectrum — ensuring that diverging uses can be managed safely and optimally — and now is the time to implement these solutions more broadly.

Shared Spectrum & the 3.5 GHz Band: Paving the Way for 5G Applications

Recently Federated Wireless attended the LTE North America conference in Dallas, Texas. During one of the panel discussions on 5G Spectrum, the moderator asked a panelist what band they thought was the most interesting opportunity for 5G. The response received was “The 3.5 GHz band”.

For those unaware, in April 2015 the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules for the 3.5 GHz band (or the Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service) unlocking 150 MHz of spectrum for shared use by commercial entities.  The FCC’s action opened a new chapter in the regulation and administration of our nation’s radio spectrum.  I believe it will pave the way toward future 5G applications – a massive increase the reach, capacity, and resiliency of wireless networks and in the rollout of new industrial applications, enabling the Smart City and the Internet of Everything.

Federated Wireless has been on the forefront of preparing the 3.5 GHz band for commercial use, working with government entities like the FCC and Department of Defense. In fact, Federated Wireless was responsible for much of the advocacy that led to the FCC’s Report and Order, and we recently announced that we are testing and validating our Spectrum Access System (SAS), the “lynchpin” of Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service operations, with government agencies.  So it does please us to hear that interest in 3.5 GHz continues to grow.

Recently FierceWireless reported that Google, AT&T and Nokia have begun exploring in the 3.5 Ghz band. This helps validate the work we’ve done over the last 3 years to help make shared spectrum on the 3.5 GHz band a reality. It’s not just passing interest the 3.5 GHz band, it is larger than that. And it’s a clear sign that shared spectrum is truly disruptive.

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