ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) filed a letter with the FCC electing to use 20 MHz of AWS-4 uplink spectrum (2000-2020 MHz) for downlink operations, resulting in all 40 MHz of DISH’s AWS-4 spectrum being designated for downlink operations. The FCC provided DISH with the right to make this election in 2013.
DISH also announced that the RAN4 working group of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the global wireless standards body, last week agreed on Band 70 specifications. Formal approval of the band is anticipated later this month.
Band 70 combines three spectrum blocks encompassing DISH’s current AWS-4 spectrum as downlink (2000-2020 MHz), DISH's H block downlink spectrum (1995-2000 MHz), and unpaired AWS-3 uplink spectrum (1695-1710 MHz). 3GPP formal approval will enable the development of devices and infrastructure that supports Band 70.
“Similar to Band 66 approved in December 2015, the asymmetric Band 70 includes a greater proportion of downlink spectrum relative to uplink, enhancing the overall utility of the spectrum as the growth of video and other downlink-intensive traffic continues to increase,” said Tom Cullen, DISH executive vice president of Corporate Development. “Consumer trends clearly support the efficient combination of different spectrum blocks into a single, asymmetric band. Moreover, our AWS-4 election leads to a better coexistence with the adjacent downlink PCS operations. We’re pleased with the working group level completion of Band 70 as these standards efforts are a necessary step in developing the ecosystem.”
DISH and the entities in which it has invested have on average almost 80 MHz of spectrum nationwide, covering over 23 billion MHz-POPs.
About DISH
DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiaries, provides approximately 13.874 million pay-TV subscribers, as of March 31, 2016, with the highest-quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value. DISH offers a high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 250 company. Visit www.dish.com.
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