M2z Networks

T-Mobile files another argument against AWS-3 services

Peggy Albright — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:25:11 -0400

T-Mobile, which has filed a flurry of documents to the FCC to bolster its position that wireless services offered in AWS-3 spectrum will adversely affect the services its customers receive on AWS-1 spectrum, has just submitted additional documentation to the commission that it says further substantiates its case. The documents, which T-Mobile shared with FierceWirelessBroadband, represent the company's second move in less than a week to persuade the FCC against proceeding with its plans to auction AWS-3 spectrum for a nationwide network. The documents are also T-Mobile's latest move against M2Z Networks, which wants to offer a nationwide service via AWS-3 spectrum.

T-Mobile's new filing, submitted on Tuesday, presents results of a network simulation and statistical analysis that was conducted by Optimi Corp. on behalf of T-Mobile. The results of the study, T-Mobile said, support the findings from recent FCC tests in Seattle confirming that 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 is not providing any interpretation of those tests while it proceeds with its AWS-3 rulemaking, though it has published the raw data.

The new Optimi study, T-Mobile said, is important because it employed the same types of research methods used by two firms, ERA Technology in the UK and Alion Science and Technology in the U.S., whose research M2Z has used to support its claims that AWS-3 and AWS-1 services can coexist. Yet in its new filing, T-Mobile argues the ERA and Alion studies were limited in scope and flawed because they didn't consider some important real-world conditions. T-Mobile's more extensive study, the company said, proves interference would be real, serious, and highly likely.

M2Z has not filed responses to these two latest filings from T-Mobile.

Related articles:
T-Mobile asks FCC to explain AWS-3 test results
AWS-3 spectrum debate festers
T-Mobile takes M2Z to task over AWS-3 auction arguments
T-Mobile, others say tests proved interference
M2Z: T-Mobile's interference argument over AWS-3 spectrum flawed

T-Mobile asks FCC to explain AWS-3 test results

Peggy Albright — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:58:17 -0400

T-Mobile is urging the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology to explain the outcome of tests it recently conducted to determine if AWS-3 services will interfere with services that run operate on AWS-1 spectrum. The tests, which FCC engineers conducted at a Boeing facility near Seattle in early September, could influence the commission's plan to auction AWS-3 spectrum for a nationwide, free wireless broadband network.

In its latest filing to the FCC, submitted on Friday, T-Mobile asked the commission to "put its tentative conclusions regarding the Boeing lab tests on the record."

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, and its rival in this controversy, M2Z Networks, obviously are anxious about the impact the tests might have. T-Mobile opposes the AWS-3 auction because of interference concerns; it, AT&T, CTIA, MetroPCS and Nokia Siemens Networks all claimed in a Sept. 10 filing that the tests proved that interference will be a problem. M2Z, a leading proponent of the AWS-3 initiative, claimed otherwise--that the tests proved AWS-3 services would not interfere--in a Sept. 23 filing to the commission.

"We appreciate the OET's willingness to engage in testing and the fact that OET staff publicly released its data from the tests, but a full record should include the engineers' views on whether they think the tests show that the proposed rules will create harmful interference and why or why not," Thomas Sugrue, T-Mobile's vice president for government affairs, wrote to the FCC. "A reasonable comment period would give the public a chance to review those conclusions before the Commission acts in reliance on them."

T-Mobile made the request, which it shared with FierceBroadbandWireless, in its response to comments that M2Z had filed with the commission earlier last week. In the T-Mobile filing, Sugrue also said his company is willing to conduct additional FCC tests, either at the Boeing lab or a certified lab of M2Z's choosing, to confirm the validity of the original Boeing lab tests.

Related articles:
AWS-3 spectrum debate festers
T-Mobile, others say tests proved interference
FCC to begin AWS-3 interference tests
M2Z asks FCC to reject more AWS-3 interference tests

More wrangling over AWS-3 interference tests

Peggy Albright — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:30:59 -0400

The debate over whether the FCC should forge ahead with its plans to create a 25-megahertz swath of spectrum, known as AWS-3, is still festering. Proponent M2Z Networks issued a press release today saying the FCC's interference testing has confirmed that any proposed wireless broadband service in this spectrum would not cause interference with company's offering service on adjacent bands. Article.

T-Mobile, others say tests proved interference

Peggy Albright — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:01:43 -0400

Last week, the FCC sent its engineers to Seattle to conduct tests to determine whether signals coming from the AWS-3 band will interfere with T-Mobile's WCDMA network that uses the adjacent AWS-1 band. Yesterday, a number of companies and organizations observing the tests released an early reaction to the results that gives support to T-Mobile's claims of interference. They shared that response with Fierce.

"The interference scenarios would not be rare," the groups wrote in a letter to the FCC. "Under normal operating conditions interference to AWS-1 devices from AWS-3 operations, should the Commission adopt its proposed technical rules, would be widespread and prevalent."

Organizations signing the letter said their statement represented their "unified thoughts" on the outcome of the testing. The authors included AT&T, CTIA, MetroPCS, Nokia Siemens Networks, and T-Mobile USA. Companies present at the testing that did not sign the letter, were Sirius XM Satellite Radio and M2Z Networks, according to these authors. The Sirius and M2Z reactions were unknown at press time.

The outcome of the tests is important because the FCC wants to create a swath of spectrum, known as AWS-3, that would support a nationwide license. The FCC'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 wants to bid on the spectrum, has been submitting filings saying T-Mobile's assertions are wrong.

T-Mobile takes M2Z to task over AWS-3 auction arguments

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:56:07 -0400

T-Mobile USA is taking M2Z Networks to task for the company's claim that T-Mobile's interference concerns over the FCC's proposed plans for the AWS-3 band are moot given the fact that the carrier operates a wireless broadband network Czech Republic using similar spectrum and similar technical rules to those the FCC plans to adopt for the band. The FCC wants to create a 25-megahertz swath of spectrum, known as AWS-3, that would support a nationwide license and would require the licensee to dedicate 25 percent of its network capacity to free broadband service, install a network-based Internet filtering system to block pornography and allow open access to third-party devices and applications. T-Mobile has been the most vocal opponent of the plan.

T-Mobile has been aggressively arguing that time division duplex (TDD) technology would cause a problem if deployed in the U.S. adjacent to its frequency division duplex (FDD) operations in the AWS-1 band. T-Mobile's network in the Czech Republic, however, uses TDD (UMTS TDD technology) in unpaired spectrum and is adjacent to FDD operations within well-established standard power limits and without using spectrum guard bands, said a report from the Czech Telecommunications Office.

T-Mobile has countered M2Z, saying that the company's argument was simplistic. According to a statement in Wireless Week, T-Mobile said: "There are important distinctions between the Czech Republic situation and the AWS-3 band in the United States that M2Z has conveniently chosen to ignore." The carrier said its Czech operations are subject to stringent technical mandates and standards that limit out-of-band emissions. It also said its Czech operations are governed by a 5 megahertz guard band between TDD and FDD operations. M2Z, on the other hand, is proposing no guard band for the AWS-3 spectrum.

For more:
- take a look at Wireless Week

Related stories:
M2Z: T-Mobile's interference argument over AWS-3 spectrum flawed. M2Z story
FCC grants more time for comments on AWS-3 auction plans. FCC article
T-Mobile pressures FCC to reconsider free wireless Internet plan. T-Mobile article

M2Z: T-Mobile's interference argument over AWS-3 spectrum flawed

Lynnette Luna — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:07:39 -0400

M2Z Networks is working to make T-Mobile USA's interference concerns regarding the 2155-2180 MHz band the FCC wants to auction for free wireless broadband services a moot point. The company, which wants to bid on the spectrum, has pointed out that T-Mobile in the Czech Republic is currently providing broadband services using similar spectrum and similar technical rules to those the FCC plans to adopt for the band.

"As a former FCC official, I'm also particularly troubled by T-Mobile's selective presentation of information at the FCC about the state of the art in wireless technology and interference management," M2Z CEO John Muleta said in a statement.

The FCC wants to create a 25-megahertz swath of spectrum, known as AWS-3, that would support a nationwide license. The spectrum is referred to as advanced wireless services-3 and would require the licensee to dedicate 25 percent of its network capacity to free broadband service, install a network-based Internet filtering system to block pornography and allow open access to third-party devices and applications. T-Mobile has been the most vocal opponent of the plan.

For more:
- read WirelessWeek

Related articles:
FCC grants more time for comments on AWS-3 auction plans. FCC article
T-Mobile pressures FCC to reconsider free wireless Internet plan. T-Mobile article

FCC looks to fast-track free wireless broadband network initiative

Lynnette Luna — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:18:43 -0400

The FCC is looking for feedback on options to auction a nationwide wireless broadband license that would require the licensee to offer free broadband services. The FCC hopes to secure rules for the licensee by August.

The commission is proposing to combine the 2155 to 2175 MHz band with the 2175 MHz to 2180 MHz band to create a 25-megahertz swathe of spectrum that would support a nationwide license. The spectrum is referred to as advanced wireless services-3.

"This larger block size may allow the AWS-3 licensee to make more robust use of the spectrum while operating at a stricter out-of-band emission limit," the FCC stated. "Alternatively, another proposed option would be to retain the 2155-2175 MHz AWS-3 block and allow the licensee to operate with a more traditional out-of-band emission limit."

The plan, however, is already riddled in controversy, with major operators raising concern about interference to their operations in adjacent frequencies and accusing regulators of creating an auction tailored to a specific business model. The plan is similar to what M2Z Networks proposed back in 2006. The company asked the FCC for 25 megahertz of vacant spectrum in the 2155 MHz to 2175 MHz band to offer free wireless broadband service. The FCC subsequently dismissed M2Z's request. More recently, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) introduced new legislation, known as the Wireless International Nationwide for Families Act, that would direct the FCC to auction unused spectrum, the 2155 MHz to 2180MHz band, and require the winner to offer a free wireless broadband network that reaches 95 percent of the U.S. population within 10 years.

Under FCC proposals, the licensee of this band would be required to use up to 25 percent of its network capacity for free, two-way broadband service at data rates of at least 768 kbps downstream. A network-based filtering mechanism would also be required for the free Internet service to protect children and families from obscene content. The winning bidder of the AWS-3 band would also have to offer coverage and service to at least 50 percent of the U.S. population within four years and at least 95 percent of the population by the end of 10 years.

T-Mobile, which won a huge amount of spectrum in the AWS band, buying 120 licenses for about $4.2 billion, raised concerns about interference from the band. Tom Sugrue, vice president of government affairs with T-Mobile said the "commission appears to be denying itself the opportunity to engage in the appropriate joint testing required to examine empirically the significant interference issues raised in this proceeding. T-Mobile looks forward to detailing these concerns in its comments and to sharing with the commission its own interference test results."

For more:
- read RCR Wireless News

Related stories:
FCC mulls another spectrum auction. Read this spectrum auction story.
Will a spectrum auction requiring free broadband services work? Read this spectrum auction editorial
Congresswoman proposes free wireless broadband. Read this free broadband story