WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Wireless Innovation Forum today announced approval of the charter for a new committee focused on the advancement of spectrum under the proposed FCC Part 96 rules, providing sharing in 3.55 GHz band. The new Spectrum Sharing Committee (SSC) will focus on creating the foundation for an ecosystem to promote spectrum sharing through a three-tier dynamic spectrum sharing model. The Committee will be led by co-chairs Iyad Tarazi, CEO of Federated Wireless, and Preston Marshall, Principal Wireless Architect of Google (GOOG-NASDAQ).
“The level of engagement we have achieved at the WInnForum, and working groups is exceeding all of our expectations, reinforcing that shared spectrum will present a seismic shift for in-building enterprise networks,” stated Tarazi. “Shared spectrum provides the enterprise with a speedier and more cost effective alternative that is seamless and secure, at a scale that Wi-Fi and carrier networks cannot.”
Marshall added, “The FCC is doing its part in establishing the regulatory framework, and protecting incumbent users. Now it is up to industry to develop the standards, processes, and innovative concepts to fully exploit this opportunity. With representation by carriers, innovative startups, equipment manufacturers, and database suppliers, we now have a forum to accomplish this rapidly.”
The 3.55 GHz network is expected to revolutionize mobile networks by providing spectrum access beyond traditional service providers enabling innovation, with scale and cost optimization. The following four working groups in the committee will collaborate in support of a common goal -- to ensure that the 3.55 GHz band can be successfully commercialized:
- Operational and Functional Requirements (Interoperability Focus)
- Security Requirements
- Protocol Specifications
- Testing and Certification
While the SSC is currently focused on the near-term objective of facilitating spectrum sharing in the U.S. 3.55 GHz band, the Forum expects that the structure of and innovative developments created by the Committee will be applicable to a wide range of future spectrum sharing opportunities worldwide.
Consistent with the Forum's regulatory agenda, the SSC will also address expanding the spectrum that is available for sharing under the proposed FCC Part 96. Marshall noted that, “Part 96 provides a regulatory and licensing framework that can be readily and rapidly applied to additional spectrum bands where database-driven sharing is possible. It is in both the Government's and industry's interest that we approach new spectrum sharing opportunities with an integrated and consistent regulation and technical implementation.”
Multi-stakeholder meetings organized by the Forum and attended by a variety of participants, including commercial carriers interested in deploying in the band, telecommunications equipment manufacturers, spectrum database providers, sensor system vendors, incumbents in the 3.55 GHz and adjacent bands, and other stakeholders, in October 2014 and January 2015 led to the creation of the group’s charter proposal. Per the charter, main activities of the Committee will include:
- Detailing common industry and government functionality and architecture for Spectrum Access Systems (SAS), Dedicated Listening Devices (DLDs), and devices that will operate within the new 3.55 GHz sharing framework
- Interoperability requirements and protocol definitions to allow for open, competitive, and well-functioning systems
- Common framework for testing and integration of components of spectrum sharing technologies to allow for rapid certification and deployment, as well as predictability, thus expanding the ecosystem and increasing utility of the spectrum
- Details of requirements, processes, and methods for protection of incumbent users as required by the adopted rules
Organizations are welcomed to participate in the Committee on the working groups as members (includes Forum membership and voting rights) or observers (excludes Forum membership and voting rights). To learn more about membership options or to apply for membership in the group, please visit: http://www.wirelessinnovation.org/join.
For more detailed information on projects and deliverables, the group’s recently approved charter can be found here: http://groups.winnforum.org/d/do/7958.
About the Wireless Innovation Forum
Established in 1996, The Wireless Innovation Forum (SDR Forum Version 2.0) is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation dedicated to advocating for spectrum innovation, and advancing radio technologies that support essential or critical communications worldwide. Members bring a broad base of experience in Software Defined Radio (SDR), Cognitive Radio (CR) and Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technologies in diverse markets and at all levels of the wireless value chain to address emerging wireless communications requirements. To learn more about The Wireless Innovation Forum, its meetings and membership benefits, visit www.WirelessInnovation.org.
