CommScope and Ericsson have announced the successful completion of the interoperability testing of their equipment, ahead of the commercial deployment in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) wireless spectrum in the U.S. The testing is one of the first successful interoperability tests using the Wireless Innovation Forum’s Release 1.2 specifications.
The interoperability test confirmed that CommScope’s Spectrum Access System (SAS) and Ericsson’s radio infrastructure with CBRS spectrum support will work together as part of a CBRS network. The rigorous SAS–Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) interoperability testing used a battery of scenarios to verify that both products meet governmental requirements and industry protocols, as well as CommScope’s and Ericsson’s respective quality standards.
In a CBRS network, a SAS (Spectrum Access System) and CBSD (Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device) work together to ensure that the appropriate wireless signals are transmitted and received between the core network and end-user devices, while managing interference. An Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) works with the SAS to identify the wireless signals of incumbent users to avoid interference from CBSDs. CommScope is one of four ESC operators conditionally approved by the FCC to provide SAS and ESC services.
The 3.5 GHz CBRS band has been approved by the FCC with the goal of improving wireless broadband access and performance. The band is made up of 150 MHz of 3.5 GHz shared spectrum, which until now has been primarily used by the federal government for radar systems. The FCC has authorized shared use of the band with wireless small cells. The shared spectrum approach in the CBRS band could become an effective way to facilitate the growth of wireless data, including mobile broadband, Internet of Things and fixed applications.
