The Aerospace Industries Association raised concerns about a WiMAX Forum petition asking the FCC to launch an NPRM on service rules for the aeronautical mobile airport communications system (AeroMACS). Other companies supported the petition. “AIA is a vigorous proponent of the NextGen program that the Federal Aviation Administration is undertaking to modernize our nation’s airspace,” the group commented in RM-11793. “AeroMACS, which will benefit the safety and regularity of flight, is a key part of that program and many of our members have strong interest in its success.” But AIA also said the FCC shouldn’t act hastily: “It would be premature to rush a proceeding that will impact aviation safety, infrastructure investments, and product development cycles for decades, as there is substantial detail for which interested stakeholders must agree." Lockheed Martin also raised concerns, saying it's "deeply concerned about the impact on the ability to access the same C-band spectrum for Aeronautical Mobile Telemetry (AMT) operations in support of critical flight testing -- whether by Lockheed Martin or other aerospace industry sector members. In this context, we advocate a balanced spectrum use approach, including an opportunity for testing of system compatibility to be conducted in the United States.” Equipment maker Airtel said many AeroMACS providers are waiting for the FCC to act. “The widespread and expeditious deployment of AeroMACS holds the potential to bring significant benefits to American airports, air travelers, and equipment manufacturers,” Airtel said. The FCC should therefore "move quickly" to adopt an NPRM on services rules for AeroMACS. Equipment maker Symnatec also urged the FCC to act, as did solutions provider Telrad Networks. The WiMAX Forum proposed AeroMACS spectrum be shared between federal and nongovernment users under a memorandum of agreement to be negotiated between the NTIA, on behalf of federal users, and a private entity to be designated by the FCC (see 1707190033). The spectrum is in the 5000-5030 MHz and 5091-5150 MHz bands.

Close to 9 percent of U.S. adults owned a smartwatch as of June, NPD reported Thursday, predicting 15 percent penetration by 2019. More features and improved capabilities will contribute to growth, the researcher said after surveying 5,000. “Rumors of the smartwatch’s demise have been greatly exaggerated,” said analyst Weston Henderek, who predicts accelerated growth. Ownership is highest (34 percent) among those earning under $45,000 per year, "likely driven by a large number of buyers in the service industry who need a device to check incoming notifications,” said Henderek.

PDVWireless filed in support of a request by FELHC, BPC Spectrum, Dominion 700 and Access 700 for extension of time or waiver of the FCC’s substantial service requirement for 700 MHz guard band A-block licenses. “PDV recognizes the serious challenge faced by utilities, other Critical Infrastructure Industry entities, and private enterprise users seeking licensed spectrum in a band that can support cost-effective advanced telecommunications capabilities with coverage, reliability, security, and other features that are not always available on commercial networks,” said a filing in docket 17-201. “PDV agrees that the showing presented by FELHC amply justifies either the construction deadline extension requested or a waiver of that rule.” FELHC and the other parties asked that the June 13, 2019, deadline be extended until Dec. 31, 2022, or that they receive a waiver.

Airbus told the FCC it supports a WiMAX Forum petition for launch of an NPRM on service rules for the aeronautical mobile airport communications system (AeroMACS). The Wireless Bureau sought comment in July and initial comments are due Friday (see 1707190033). “The widespread and expeditious deployment of AeroMACS holds the potential to bring significant benefits to airports, airlines, air travelers, and equipment manufacturers,” Airbus said in a filing in RM-11793. “As the demand for high-bandwidth, data intensive services and applications continues to grow, the global aviation community has adopted AeroMACS to help meet these needs for airport surface communications. The FCC has adopted globally harmonized allocations for AeroMACS in the 5 GHz band, but the lack of service rules has hindered the widespread deployment of this service in the United States.”

CTIA said the FCC should extend the Nov. 1 deadline for carriers to meet new requirements for wireless emergency alerts. The Competitive Carriers Association also pressed for more time (see 1708160063). Carriers “are committed to working collaboratively with public safety and alert originators to develop the ability to receive and transmit WEA alerts with embedded references on their networks, and to work with mobile device and [operating system] vendors to implement embedded, ‘clickable’ references, but remain concerned about implementing such functionality without adequate time for development and feasibility testing,” CTIA said in a filing in docket 15-91. “To ensure that ‘clickable’ references are deployed in an effective manner, standards development and implementation are critical pre-requisites.” Timelines should be extended and should apply only to new devices, CTIA said.

Fifth-generation wireless will unfold over the next several decades and will be around longer than earlier generations, said Ramjee Prasad, president of the Global Information and Communication Technologies Standardization Forum for India. Prasad spoke Thursday at an IEEE 5G Summit streamed live form India. Every previous generation “lasted only for 10 years,” he said, but “5G will be very different with new technology … many new applications. It will need longer life than 10 years." India is poised to lead the world on wireless technology, he said: “We want to take the leadership. We have the wisdom. We have the talent.” Tom Sebastian, with the Innovation Centre Denmark New Delhi, said Denmark launched an initiative in 2015 with a goal of building 100 smart cities. Sebastian said smart city programs can help municipalities address environmental issues and that can be especially important in countries like India. Bangalore was once known as the garden city of India, with 86 percent tree cover, but that's down to 12 percent today, he said. In the Nordic countries there's significant focus on both tree cover and water management. A smart city program must focus on making cities more “livable,” not just on the technology itself, Sebastian said.

Samsung led Android smartphone volume in Q2, shipping 10.2 million Galaxy S8 phone and 9 million S8+ models, but Apple topped overall global smartphone shipments, with 16.9 million iPhone 7 and 15.1 million 7 Plus shipments, said a Wednesday Strategy Analytics report. The Xiaomi Redmi 4A ranked fifth, behind the Apple and Samsung models, shipping 5.5 million units, it said. But the top five manufacturers -- Apple with 8.9 percent, Samsung at 5.3 percent and Xiaomi at 1.5 percent -- were a small percentage of the global smartphone market, as the rest of the market shipped 84.3 million devices, said the research firm. “Xiaomi is becoming wildly popular across Asia,” said SA analyst Linda Sui, citing the Chinese maker’s position as fourth largest vendor in China and second largest in India. Xiaomi has a significant online presence, selling through key distribution partners Flipkart and JD, she said.

AT&T asked the FCC for a six-month special temporary authority to “demonstrate the functionality and capabilities” of 5G in an experiment in a Dallas building, using 28 GHz spectrum. “The 5G wireless link will be established between the base station and mobile user equipment located in the same room or space as the base station, at a distance of about 10 meters,” AT&T said. Verizon, meanwhile, filed for temporary authority to test 28 GHz connections in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, using equipment by Ericsson, Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm and Samsung.

There's a “critical need” to reserve at least three channels per market for unlicensed use, said Dynamic Spectrum Alliance President Kalpak Gude in a meeting Monday with the FCC Media Bureau, Office of Engineering Technology and the Wireless Bureau, said a later filing in docket 12-268. Three channels would “ensure availability everywhere and incentivize investment, both by chip manufacturers and service providers, in TVWS [TV white space] technology,” DSA said. Comparing a single low-power TV station in one market vs. TVWS availability “would be a mistake” because “lack of TVWS channels everywhere would negatively impact the availability of TVWS everywhere,” the group said. All rural LPTV stations and translators should be placed together in one portion of the band “to enable the most efficient use of the remaining spectrum for TVWS services,” it said.

5G Americas predicts 5G could be deployed in “non-standalone versions” as early as 2019, with deployment continuing through 2030. “5G is being designed to integrate with LTE, and some 5G features may be implemented as LTE-Advanced Pro extensions prior to full 5G availability,” Rysavy Research reported for the group. Another big story of the year is that LTE is quickly becoming the industry standard, the group said. “A previously fragmented wireless industry has consolidated globally on LTE,” 5G Americas said. “LTE is being deployed more quickly than any previous-generation wireless technology.” 5G Americas also sees the IoT as “poised for massive adoption.” Industry is “in the nascent stages of the transformation that ubiquitous connectivity is enabling,” 5G Americas said. “Early examples ... include virtual and augmented reality, autonomous driving, smart cities, wearable computers, and connected devices.”