Tech Players Side With Carriers on Need to Clear 12.7 GHz Band
Among other comments on the 12.7 GHz band (see 2212130047), Qualcomm characterized the band as a “good contender for clearing” for exclusive-use licenses. “The 12.7 GHz Band is ideal for the deployment of the latest 6G technological advances and can…
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offer ubiquitous coverage, low latency and high capacity,” Qualcomm said in docket 22-352: “Even though the RF propagation characteristics of the band result in greater signal losses when compared to lower mid-band spectrum, technology advances for 6G, including the Giga [multiple-input and multiple-output] antenna design, will overcome the greater signal losses at 12.7 GHz Band and allow for mobile coverage areas akin to those available today in the lower mid-band spectrum range, by taking advantage of the higher directionality of beams and advanced Giga MIMO antennas.” Ericsson supported exclusive-use licensing and said the notice of inquiry starts to position the FCC to look at other bands for 6G. “Although the 12.7 GHz band is beyond the mid-band range and poses challenges for deploying coverage with deep in-building penetration in comparison with spectrum at lower bands, it can serve an important role for 6G,” Ericsson said: “Capacity-driven 6G use cases require large spectrum bandwidth which typically is easier to find the higher the frequency. On the other hand, the higher the frequency, the lower the coverage will be. As a result, we will need a mix of bands, including more spectrum that supports today’s 5G networks in the lower ranges.” Nokia also stressed the continuing need for exclusive-use spectrum. “It is imperative that the U.S. makes a significant part of the 7-16 GHz spectrum available for licensed mobile broadband use,” Nokia said. Nokia suggested the FCC relocate fixed point-to-point links and mobile users in the band, while satellite users should be able to coexist with 6G. The company proposed a protection zone around NASA’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex. CTA said “the 12.7 GHz band may be an ideal candidate for high-speed, low-latency, bandwidth-intensive applications, including augmented reality, virtual reality, telesurgery, and robotics.” The Rural Wireless Association said it's critical the band be licensed at the county level rather than through much larger partial economic area licenses. “Using PEAs would effectively prevent [the band] from being used to serve rural areas as only large carriers will have the resources to serve PEAs and such carriers do not have the economic incentive to build out in a timely manner to the most rural portions of these areas,” RWA said: “Using county-sized license areas would promote an equitable distribution of mid-band licenses and promote the rapid deployment of 5G products and services to rural areas.”