FCC Finds No Consensus on Proposal to Maximize Use of 5 GHz Band
Facebook and the Wi-Fi Alliance told the FCC a proposal by Radwin to allow devices in the 5.15-5.25 and 5.725-5.85 GHz bands to sequentially emit directional beams would mean steerable, active phased-array antennas in outdoor settings at higher power levels and would allow more intensive use of the key unlicensed spectrum. NCTA expressed concerns about interference with traditional Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz band as did the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council and Globalstar.
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Facebook said the FCC should launch an NPRM on the Radwin proposal. The proposal would mean lower siting costs and “unlock new 5G deployment scenarios,” Facebook said in comments in RM-11812. “These technologies can help meet the growing need for unlicensed spectrum by encouraging more spectrally efficient use of the 5 GHz Band.” In the U.S., only 540 MHz of channelized unlicensed spectrum is available in two key Wi-Fi bands -- 2.4 and 5 GHz, the company said. “Yet these unlicensed bands carry more internet traffic than any other wireless technology or service,” Facebook said. “Analysts predict a shortfall of more than 500 megahertz of unlicensed spectrum by 2025, and Cisco projects an explosion of traffic over the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands in the near future.”
The Wi-Fi Alliance urged an NPRM, saying use of sequential multi-beam antenna technology “will allow improved performance in gain, capacity, range, and robustness at no additional cost or interference.” The technology “has the potential to increase the range and utility” of 5 GHz devices, while “lowering the cost of deploying wireless Internet services in rural areas and increasing spectrum efficiency,” the alliance said.
The Wireless ISP Association said members would find the rule change helpful. WISPs could achieve “higher throughput and better performance,” WISPA said. “With improved performance at the same cost, broadband can be deployed more economically, which will make the business case for serving rural Americans all the more compelling.”
Not so fast, NCTA said. “Radwin suggests that its proposed changes will align the 5 GHz rules for point-to-multipoint operation with corresponding rules in the 2.4 GHz band,” the cable association said: “Radwin’s proposed rule changes do not reflect the narrative’s focus largely on rural areas, and in fact, would open the door to much broader implementations with serious potential to degrade current operations” in the 5 GHz band.
NPSTC doesn't have a stance, and wants questions answered. The FCC should look at “differences in the overall technology between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands that could influence the impact” of a rule change, “the potential interference impact from simultaneous multiple beams vs. that from sequential multiple beams” and the potential effect on the overall 5 GHz noise floor, NPSTC said. Globalstar opposed the petition, noting it asked the FCC to look more closely at harmful interference affecting its operations in the 5.1 GHz band (see 1807240039).