T-Mobile, Nokia Ready for LTE-Unlicensed Tests to Start
T-Mobile and Nokia met with FCC officials to press for tests of coexistence between LTE-unlicensed and Wi-Fi, said a filing in docket 15-105. “Nokia described the ability of its devices to meet Part 15 authorization requirements as well as pass…
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currently agreed coexistence tests,” the filing said. “Moreover, Nokia representatives stated that they are prepared today to test devices for coexistence based on the current version of the Wi-Fi Alliance test plan.” The companies complained of delays. “It has been more than a year since the Wi-Fi Alliance announced that it was creating a cooperative process to evaluate coexistence between LTE-U and Wi-Fi devices, and the Commission has held off approving devices in anticipation of results from the process,” they said. “Although the test plan is fundamentally complete, we have seen numerous deadlines come and go without finalization of the procedure.” The Wi-Fi Alliance didn’t comment. T-Mobile and Nokia met with Julius Knapp, chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and Edward Smith, aide to Chairman Tom Wheeler, and others, the filing said. On a recent financial call, T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said the carrier was “frustrated” by the lack of progress on LTE-U (see 1607270050). The Wi-Fi Alliance will deliver an “industry-validated Coexistence Test Plan as quickly as possible while ensuring industry-agreed-upon objectives for fair coexistence are met,” the alliance said in a statement. “While a significant number of test cases are nearly validated, validation of all test cases is necessary to deliver a test plan that will determine whether LTE-U devices are able to fairly share unlicensed spectrum with Wi-Fi. In addition, all of the test cases in the test plan are necessary to ensure LTE-U fairness with Wi-Fi.” The alliance said it shares the desire of other stakeholders to accelerate progress. “We will continue to serve as the forum for industry stakeholders to achieve a test solution in September. In facilitating this cross industry effort we welcome specific, actionable suggestions and contributions to accelerate delivery of the test plan.”