Federated Wireless has announced that its spectrum controller has been granted conditional certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The spectrum controller allows spectrum to be allocated as needed, eliminating the need for operators to purchase entire bands of dormant spectrum, which is a lengthy process with high acquisition costs of up to billions of dollars. By enabling spectrum to be effectively allocated, managed and optimized, the spectrum controller allows a shared model to be created on the 3.5 GHz band, which was recently unlocked by the FCC.
This is a significant step that signals to operators that they can begin trials with the Federated Wireless solution, and a step that leads to full certification expected in the second quarter of this year. The Federated Wireless solution unlocks a spectrum of possibilities by breaking down barriers to wireless spectrum, giving greater access to operators by creating a shared model for what was previously individually licensed. The certification cements Federated Wireless’ first mover status and allows it to provide operators with highly efficient and secure access to spectrum resources, when they need it.
In today’s wireless-reliant world, spectrum is finite and quickly running out. In fact, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) predicts the number of devices connected to mobile networks worldwide will grow tenfold by 2020, from 5 billion to 50 billion, further straining spectrum and presenting greater issues. The economy needs better allocation and a solution that will facilitate multiple operators coexisting and leveraging spectrum.
The spectrum controller is a 100 percent cloud-based solution that eliminates the need for specialized hardware. A robust set of APIs and patented machine learning and spectrum management algorithms simplify CBRS deployments, helping businesses to improve both time-to-market and time-to-revenue while decreasing development costs. Federated Wireless offers standardized subscription costs no matter the size of the organization, ensuring operators only pay for the capacity used.
Federated Wireless has been a pioneer in preparing the 3.5 GHz band for commercial use, working closely with the United States Department of Defense and the FCC, and co-founding the CBRS Alliance, an organization focused on developing the 3.5 GHz ecosystem. The conditional certification milestone comes after five years of leading the creation of the shared spectrum market, developing necessary standards and ensuring customer deployments can be successful in all markets.
Federated Wireless has completed trials and demonstrations with a number of companies, including Alphabet, Nokia, Ruckus Wireless, SpiderCloud Wireless, Siemens, Telrad and Airspan, among others. The spectrum controller is currently undergoing trials for a variety of applications with more than two dozen operators and equipment vendors. Federated Wireless is on track to reach full regulatory approval from the FCC in the first half of 2017 and plans to have commercial customers by the end of 2017.
