Much to the chagrin of T-Mobile, FCC's Office of Engineering has tentatively concluded that services operating in the proposed AWS-3 band can co-exist with T-Mobile's WCDMA network that uses the adjacent AWS-1 band "without a significant risk of harmful interference."
Last month, the FCC sent its engineers to Seattle to conduct tests to determine whether interference would be a problem between the two bands. The FCC is keen on auctioning the 2155-2180 MHz band to support a nationwide license. The commission's ambition is to require the licensee to dedicate 25 percent of its network capacity to free broadband service and allow open access to third-party devices and applications.
T-Mobile has been adamantly opposed to the plan, citing interference concerns. M2Z, which has been lobbying the FCC for years to open up the band, has been submitting filings saying T-Mobile's assertions are wrong. The FCC published the raw data from the study Sept. 12 but refrained from interpreting the results as it continues with the AWS-3 rulemaking proceeding. T-Mobile was pushing the FCC to release those results.
The FCC said it conducted the same tests conducted by Optimi Corp. on behalf of T-Mobile. The results of that study, T-Mobile said, show AWS-3 services cause harmful interference to mobile devices in the AWS-1 band. AT&T, CTIA, MetroPCS and Nokia Siemens Networks have concurred with T-Mobile that the tests proved interference.
The FCC's tentative conclusion certainly won't be the last word on the subject. T-Mobile has continually reminded the FCC that it has a legal obligation to protect AWS-1 licensees. The FCC acknowledged in its report that the FCC "has in the past adopted less stringent [out-of-band-emissions] standards under flexible service rules whereby the licensees and industry work together cooperatively to manage potential interference."
For more:
- check out the FCC's report [1]
Related articles:
T-Mobile [2] asks FCC to explain AWS-3 test results
AWS-3 spectrum debate [3] festers
T-Mobile [4] takes M2Z to task over AWS-3 auction arguments
T-Mobile [5], others say tests proved interference
M2Z: [6] T-Mobile's interference argument over AWS-3 spectrum flawed
Links:
[1] http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-2245A2.pdf
[2] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/t-mobile-responds-m2z-aws-3-spectrum-debate/2008-09-28
[3] http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/aws-3-spectrum-debate-festers/2008-09-23?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FW0
[4] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/t-mobile-takes-m2z-task-over-aws-3-auction-arguments/2008-08-04
[5] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/t-mobile-and-others-say-wireless-tests-proved-interference/2008-09-10
[6] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/m2z-t-mobiles-interference-argument-over-aws-3-spectrum-flawed/2008-07-31?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=wifi_T-Mobile&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FBW0