The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum), a non-profit international industry association dedicated to driving the future of radio communications and systems worldwide, has announced that CommScope, Federated Wireless, and Google have joined Nokia as approved Certified Professional Installer (CPI) Training Program Administrators for the new Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band. As specified in WINNF-TS-0247, CPIs are responsible for assuring that the installation data entered into the Spectrum Access System (SAS) for certain types of CBRS devices is accurate and the device valid to be registered and request a spectrum grant to operate.
In addition to now having approved these four CPI Training Program Administrators, the WInnForum has also approved three Certificate Authorities (CA).
These organizations facilitate the implementation of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) established by the WInnForum in the CBRS Communications Security Technical Specification (WINNF-TS-0065) and the CBRS Certificate Policy Specification (WIINNF-TS-0022). This infrastructure is critical in ensuring the integrity of CBRS and protection of the incumbents. The Forum has also approved 11 CBSD Test Labs.
In order to be FCC certified to operate in the CBRS Band, an equipment manufacturer will need to show that their CBSD can communicate with a SAS and follow its directives as per Part 96. The CBRS ecosystem has developed standards in the WInnForum supporting SAS to CBSD communication (WINNF-TS-0016). In addition, the WInnForum CBRS Test and Certification Task Group have developed a test specification (WINNF-TS-0122) and a test harness supporting that standard. Successful completion of the defined tests provides evidence of Part 96 compliance in this area. The WInnForum has approved these test labs to perform these tests, resulting in more than 20 certified CBSDs to date.
These programs, when combined with the technology registration for air interfaces, measurement types, and grouping parameters, extend the standards to provide complete support for commercialization.
The SSC benefits from the participation of a broad-based stakeholder group that includes wireless carriers and operators, network equipment manufacturers, SAS and ESC Administrators, satellite operators, existing 3650-3700 MHz band licensees, and other parties with an interest in the CBRS band.
