Telrad Networks announced their partnership with Federated Wireless to undertake a trial for a comprehensive solution in compliance with the FCC Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) 3550-3700 MHz band rules. This joint solution aims to provide operators and other users of wireless technology with a seamless solution in the new CBRS band.
The newly formed CBRS band, created by the FCC in April 2015, provides the much needed spectrum to a rapidly growing wireless industry, while addressing potential interference and coordination issues with new spectrum sharing and management techniques. In order to operate within the band, companies must utilize a spectrum access system (SAS) for the allocation and management of spectrum, with the goal of maximizing efficiency in the band. Federated Wireless has developed a dynamic three-tiered SAS that will incorporate information from its Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) systems, which is designed to be used to increase available spectrum in coastal areas while continuing to protect interference-free use by federal incumbents, such as the Department of Defense (DoD) radar systems, and other users.
Federated Wireless has worked with the FCC to help establish the standards for accessing the new spectrum and leading the effort to establish the model for SAS and ESC interoperation. Their CINQ XP platform is built on a foundation of shared spectrum and utilizes a SAS to dynamically allocate and manage spectrum resources. This platform provides a range of shared spectrum services, aiming to enable operators with the tools needed to operate wireless equipment on shared spectrum.
The goal of this partnership is to help current 3.65 GHz users protect their current spectrum use and access the additional 50 MHz recently made available, as well as help new parties access and utilize the additional spectrum. Telrad offers an end-to-end LTE solution that meets FCC requirements and has already been field-proven in the 3.5 GHz band. This envisioned joint solution will provide features designed specifically to support fixed wireless networks, and aims to enable operator access to LTE with a reasonably priced entry point and scalability. If successfully integrated, this joint solution created by both companies could place them at the forefront of the new FCC spectrum rules.
Existing wireless broadband services in the 3650-3700 MHz band are required to transition to the new CBRS rules over the next several years. During such transition period to the new CBRS rules, to protect against harmful interference due to new uses of the band, existing users will have to register their sites with a CBRS database administrator, such as Federated Wireless, and secure a “protection zone.”
In addition to providing potential access to protection zones, they plan to offer these operators early use of the envisioned joint solution, which will bring several potential benefits, such as:
- Access to the full 150 megahertz of contiguous spectrum (3550-3700), whereas the current 3.65 GHz only has 50 megahertz available
- Increased power of wireless equipment to 37 dBm/MHz EIRP for added capacity and range
- Explicit interference protection equal to licensed spectrum users
- Strength of security and authentication - DOD and U.S. Navy security protocols
