The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology granted special temporary authority (STA) to Qualcomm, Inc., “to conduct very small scale performance evaluation tests of LTE-U equipment at two Verizon sites in Oklahoma City, OK and Raleigh, NC.”

“OET routinely grants STAs and experimental licenses for parties to evaluate the performance of products and conduct testing, subject to the condition that no harmful interference is caused. STAs and experimental licenses do not have any significance relative to whether the Commission may ultimately authorize a device or service,” OET Chief Julie Knapp stressed in a blog posting. But Mr. Knapp cited progress that has been made in determining the level of LTE-U/Wi-Fi coexistence.

“The Wi-Fi Alliance, working together with advocates of LTE-U, is developing a test plan to evaluate the coexistence of LTE-U with Wi-Fi and other devices operating in the unlicensed spectrum. A draft of the plan is expected to be released early next month,” he said. “Qualcomm and Verizon have agreed to participate in subsequent laboratory and real world co-existence testing of LTE-U. The Wi-Fi Alliance recently submitted a letter expressing appreciation for Qualcomm’s continued engagement in the Wi-Fi Alliance’s coexistence work and expressing that it had no objection to the grant of an STA for equipment testing at Verizon facilities, with the assurance of continued cooperation in the separate co-existence evaluation and testing process.”

Mr. Knapp added, “The success of the unlicensed bands as laboratories of innovation is largely the result of industry-driven coordination and, while significant steps remain before LTE-U can be considered for commercial deployment, we believe that this development is an encouraging step in continuing that success.

“Regarding the steps remaining before LTE-U could be commercially deployed, it is important to note that experimental LTE-U device operation at any other location would require a new STA,” he said. “Further, the parties have agreed to conduct lab and real world coexistence testing, the results of which will be shared with the Commission. LTE-U devices will also require equipment authorization by the FCC Laboratory before they can be marketed in the United States and applicants for certification of such devices will be required to submit … sample devices for testing.”

Mr. Knapp emphasized that “OET and WTB will continue to closely monitor industry progress towards resolution of the spectrum sharing concerns. We are pleased with the progress thus far and encourage the continued cooperation of all of the stakeholders.”

The STA granted to Qualcomm today expires on June 30.

“Qualcomm is very pleased that the FCC granted our request for Special Temporary Authority, which will enable LTE-U product development testing to proceed,” said Dean Brenner, the company’s senior vice president-government affairs. “We are also pleased that the Wi-Fi Alliance stated they had no objection to the FCC’s action. We are collaborating with the Wi-Fi Alliance to develop a coexistence test plan, and we anticipate using that plan for joint lab and field tests to validate that LTE-U will not have any adverse impact on Wi-Fi.  We would like to thank the FCC and the Wi-Fi Alliance for working with us to reach this important result. Along with the other proponents of LTE-U, we have a substantial vested interest in Wi-Fi. That’s why we are collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure that LTE-U and Wi-Fi coexist successfully.”

“The FCC’s grant of Special Temporary Authority is an important step in testing pre-commercial LTE-U products,” Verizon Communications, Inc., said. “Verizon will continue to collaborate with the Wi-Fi Alliance and other stakeholders on testing to ensure that LTE Unlicensed and Wi-Fi coexist successfully in unlicensed spectrum. We believe that these technologies will be important in meeting consumers’ growing mobile broadband demands.”

“We’re pleased the FCC supports the testing of new LTE services and products that benefit consumers,” said Tom Sawanobori, SVP and chief technology officer for CTIA. “Fostering innovation in unlicensed bands is key to meeting consumer demand and maintaining our position as global leader in mobile broadband.”

“We’re pleased that the FCC recognizes the vital role Wi-Fi Alliance and its membership is playing in evaluating the coexistence of LTE-U with Wi-Fi,” said Kevin Robinson, vice president-marketing for the Wi-Fi Alliance. “We look forward to continued engagement with FCC and industry partners over the coming months in this critical work.”

“Given the significant concerns raised by many stakeholders regarding harm LTE-U will cause to broadband connections over Wi-Fi, we hope the FCC will closely monitor the Qualcomm and Verizon trial,” said Bill Maguire, executive director of WifiForward’s Save our Wi-Fi campaign. “We are encouraged that the FCC still expects that Qualcomm and other LTE-U supporters work closely with the Wi-Fi community on coexistence testing in the future.”

Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said they welcomed the planned LTE-U testing.

“This is what we have been working toward all along, and it’s the right call for consumers and innovation,” full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R., Mich.) and ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. (D., N.J.) and communications and technology subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R., Ore.) and ranking member Anna G. Eshoo (D., Calif.) said in a joint statement. “An environment that fosters the development of next generation technologies is what makes America the greatest place in the world to do business, create jobs, and develop state-of-the-art communications tools for consumers.”

They added, “The unlicensed bands were founded on permissionless innovation and sharing. The authority the FCC granted today will permit the testing needed to make sure technologies increase spectrum efficiency, continue the cooperative nature of the unlicensed bands, ?and benefit consumers. We have worked with all stakeholders to advance this process forward. We are proud of the potential gains these collective efforts can bring.”- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily