Re: FCC to provide 50 MHz spectrum

I agree with most of the points made but wish to add my slightly 
differing opinions into the discussion...

[email protected] wrote:
> The FCC issued a new ruling that will make 50 MHz of spectrum available 
> for semi-unlicensed use between 3650 and 3700 MHz.  

Semi-unlicensed is misleading. This is licensed operation although no 
"big bucks" are required to win exclusive spectrum rights "at auction".

This spectrum is
> very close to the 3500 MHz which is widely available globally for WBB 
> service including WiMAX.  Several vendors have 'pre-WiMAX' equipment 
> available for 3.5GHz spectrum and should easily be able to operate in 
> the 3.65-3.7 GHz spectrum.

Yes, the equipment may be "retunable" in some cases but it may take the 
manufacturers a while to incorporate the "contention-based" 
interference-reduction mechanisms - after the FCC specifies what these 
mechanism should be. The implication that equipment will soon be 
available may turn out to be wrong unless we define "soon" to mean 1 to 
2 years.

>  
> The FCC will allow WISPS to operate in the new band but will require 
> them to register what equipment they will use.  This assures that the 
> FCC can supervise compliance with the power and non-interference 
> requirements.

Registration is good but any "assurance" that the FCC will actually be 
able to be involved to determine who is causing interference to someone 
else is a real stretch. The FCC operates under budgetary constraints. 
Unless Congress acts to give the FCC the funds to deal with the 
inevitable interference issues that will arise (getting this money is 
unlikely) there is a high probability that there will be many, 
difficult-to-resolve interference problems.


> The other big difference with this and other unlicensed spectrum such as 
> 2.4 GHz is that the spectrum will be available to WISPS to set up 
> nationwide WBB networks.  

900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz spectrum is available (although crowded) 
nationwide right now. There is no "nationwide" difference with the new 
spectrum.

Spectrum availability and power limitations
> for unlicensed spectrum has been a major stumbling block limiting the 
> prospects for national WiMAX coverage.

WIMAX could operate in the 5 GHz spectrum available today if equipment 
was available. Equipment availability has been the stumbling block.


> What does this mean for community wireless?  Well in the least it gives 
> another way for people to get on the Internet, probably at a lower cost 
> than current service.  

Lower cost than on 2.4 GHz - not likely.

And it should mean that access to cable data
> rates will become available in metro areas almost wherever their is 
> power to hook up a WiMAX modem.  

Multi-megabit service availability wherever their is AC power?
Most unlikely. Not with new (costly) equipment operating in only 50 MHz 
of spectrum that is likely to get quite congested quite fast.

The first version of WiMAX equipment
> based on 802.16-2004 is already available 

Not in the U.S. it's not available. If it's available, please name the 
manufacturer and model numbers.

and the next generation
> equipment, based on 802.16e/OFDMA-TDD/FDD and dynamic modulation is 
> starting to show up now.  

Starting to show up where? Please state manufacturer and vendor!

That version will at first provide nomadic
> service - small, self-contained devices similar to APs but mostly in 
> need of being powered by a power plug supply.  These devices will 
> consume around 700 mw to 2W of power, making them a drain on laptop and 
> other battery sources.  Most of them will use the Intel chip although a 
> few might use parts from Sequans, picoChip or others. (almost all 
> vendors will build base stations using chips from other manufacturers 
> besides Intel because of higher level requirements). 
>  
> I think that we are very likely to see other bands of spectrum become 
> available on a similar basis: monitored more closely than current 
> unlicensed spectrum but open for use at higher power levels by equipment 
> that is shown to meet and be operated by WISPs who obey the 
> non-interference rules.  

More spectrum would be nice however I wouldn't hold my breath given the 
behind-the-scenes lobbying power of the telcos and cable companies, the 
unknown philosophy of the yet-to-be-appointed new FCC Chairman, and the 
interference problems that will likely occur even when WISPs "obey the 
rules".


This is perhaps a monumental ruling because it
> sets a new precedent for spectrum regulation at sub 6 GHz frequencies 
> that might be copied at even lower frequencies currently under 
> consideration. 

Agreed, this is a monumental ruling but it may not be problem-free and 
the amount of spectrum being made available is only going to be enough 
for a few (maybe three) simultaneous channels to be used (OK - six 
channels with good horizontal and vertical cross-polarization 
isolation). This is not enough spectrum to provide much bandwidth to 
very many people in cities.


It would be great to see spectrum become available in the
> 700-800 MHz bands or around 450 MHz.  

Yes, it would be great but I wouldn't advise anyone to hold their breath 
waiting.

900 MHz is currently available but
> it is already cluttered with phone and WBB use. 
>  
> Some of the new pre-WiMAX equipment that is coming available will use 
> MIMO-AAS smart antenna systems with up to twelve sectors per base 
> station.  

MIMO - maybe sooner, maybe later.

There are also various scales of base stations from the macro
> base stations that will cost over $100k each to micro and eventually 
> pico base stations.  

Eventually = maybe in a few years, or more.

Very small base stations, (better named bridges or
> routers) are being considered that can fit into parking meters,  on lamp 
> posts or other available locations. 

Maybe a few more years later...

There's enough over-hyping of WIMAX... let's all please try to be 
realistic in our predictions. Too much hype is not a good thing for the 
WISP industry.
                jack

>  
> Robert (Bob) Syputa
> WiMAXPro.com - TEAM Associates  (TEAMrep)
> 206-367-6931
> 206-984-2938 (voice message & FAX)
>  

-- 
Jack Unger - President, Ask-Wi.Com, Inc.
Serving the License-Free Wireless Industry Since 1993
Author of the WISP Handbook - "Deploying License-Free Wireless WANs"
True Vendor-Neutral WISP Consulting-Training-Troubleshooting
[email protected]  (818) 227-4220  http://www.ask-wi.com


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