3G wireless to get enhanced spectrum

date: 15th January 2001

Wireless services will get a breakthrough in additional frequency bands below 3 GHz under a Federal Communication Commission proposal.

"Third generation wireless ­ 3G ­ is the next techno-leap, the new portable Internet," said Travis Larson, spokesman for the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association in Washington, D.C.

In a statement released this week, the FCC said it will "explore" the additional spectrum. Some things it plans to propose outright; for other items, comment is sought from the industry and general public over the next 120 days.

"Our trade association foresees the point where we can all sit down and create space for 3G on the spectrum," Larson said. "To make it work, everyone will need to give a little."

The wireless cellular technology is already well advanced in Asia and Europe where the fixed land lines were not sufficient to handle the burst of telecom technology and wireless leapfrogged the old system.

"It could be a big move forward for companies offering WAP-enabled devices and services," said John Wind III, CEO of Boca Raton-based Xstream Broadband.

Wind sees the move as good news, specifically for the 3G wireless systems that plan to offer voice, data and broadband services over mobile or fixed networks, including streaming audio and video.

AT&T Wireless has announced plans to roll out a 2.5G system this year and a full 3G system late this year available in most locations by the end of 2002 in conjunction with NTT DoCoMo, Japan's Telecom giant. NTT is investing more than $10 billion in AT&T Wireless.

A spokeswoman for AT&T Wireless couldn't comment because the firm is in an SEC-mandated quiet period related to the firm's spin-off from AT&T.

The FCC plans to look at the types of advanced mobile and fixed communication services that will likely be provided in the future. In particular, it will examine the technical characteristics of the systems and the spectrum requirements needed to support their introduction, including the amount of spectrum needed and the specific frequency bands that could be used.

"Members of industry and users of the spectrum will all comment and make their recommendations," Larson said. "It is an opportunity for the U.S. to stay on the cutting edge of new technology and not be displaced by Europe and Asia."

The FCC also will explore the possibility of introducing new advanced mobile and fixed services in frequency bands currently used for cellular, broadband personal communications service and specialized mobile radio services, as well as in five other frequency bands: 1710-1755 MHz, 1755-1850 MHz, 2110-2150 MHz, 2160-2165 MHz and 2500-2690 MHz.

The 1710-1755 MHz band was designated for reallocation from federal government to non-federal government use under both the 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act and the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Industry sources think that's pretty sure to happen.

Comment is sought on providing mobile and fixed service allocations for the 1755-1850 MHz band, if spectrum in the band becomes available for non-federal government use. That's a "maybe" say cellular sources.

The agency also proposes to designate advanced mobile and fixed service use of the 2110-2150 MHz and 2160-2165 MHz bands that are currently used for a variety of fixed and mobile services and that were identified for reallocation under the FCC's 1992 Emerging Technologies proceedings. This has been long overdue and will likely be the subject of some tough negotiations.

It also seeks comment on various approaches for the 2500-2690 MHz bands, which are currently used for multi-channel multipoint distribution and instructional television fixed services. Observers either don't know or don't want to tip their hands on this one.

In connection with the 2500-2520 MHz and 2670-2690 MHz bands, the FCC already has formally denied a request on Dec. 29 from the Satellite Industry Association requesting those bands be reallocated to mobile-satellite service. These are up for grabs, say the insiders.

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