Apr. 10, 2000 (Wireless Today, Vol. 04, No. 67 via COMTEX) -- High-data rate
technology from Qualcomm [QCOM] could be wireless players' best bet for use in
the 700 MHz spectrum formerly designated for UHF television service.
Other technologies deployed in the spectrum will be affected by noise pollution
from adjoining television channels, according to Campbell, Calif.- based "Andrew
Seybold's Outlook." That interference would be noisy enough to ruin mobile
telecom transmissions.
The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will sell blocks of spectrum within
the 700 MHz bandwidth at auctions in May and June. An auction is scheduled to
begin on May 10 for 30 MHz across 12 licenses in the 747-762 MHz and the 777-792
MHz bands.
One 20 MHz license formed by paired 10 MHz blocks and one 10 MHz license formed
by paired 5 MHz blocks will be offered in each of six regions, to be known as
the 700 MHz band economic area groupings.
The remaining 6 MHz of available bandwidth will be sold in 104 guard-band
manager licenses, to be auctioned off starting June 14. One 4 MHz license,
formed by pairs of 2 MHz blocks, and one 2MHz license, formed by pairs of 1 MHz
blocks, will be offered in each of 52 major economic areas.
The spectrum became available in the commission's efforts to free up channels
60-69 for new users as part of the transition to digital television. Proceeds
from the auction of the spectrum must be transferred to the federal treasury
before October.
Frequencies within the 700 MHz spectrum have good propagation characteristics
and are valuable locations for point-to-multipoint high-speed data systems,
according to Seybold.
"On the other, it might be some of the worst if it turns out that there is
substantial interference from TV stations located just below it," Seybold
reported. "Those who have not done their homework and do not realize that there
is a potential problem may find themselves in a real bind."
San Diego-based Qualcomm last year began developing HDR products to bring the
same efficiency and cost-effectiveness to wireless data that it did to wireless
voice services with its CDMA technology. The company predicts its HDR chips and
software will lead in providing spectrally efficient, Internet protocol-based
data service.
Qualcomm's HDR can be overlaid on most existing CDMA cell sites. It enables base
stations to continually monitor the data reception capability of each device
operating within range of the site. HDR separates voice spectrum from data
spectrum to obtain higher capacities for each.
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