WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2010) – The Wireless Communications Association International (WCAI) today announced a significant step toward unlocking the potential of the 3.65 GHz band by addressing its remaining technical challenges. The WCAI’s 3.65 GHz Working Group adopted and released the 3.65 GHz Channel Plan to minimize harmful interference among operators in the band. The Plan is part of the 3.65 GHz Best Practices that the Working Group has been developing since it launched last November.
“This channel plan was finalized after multiple iterations and was the result of collaboration among some of the leading vendors, engineers and operators both in the U.S. and abroad,” said Jason Lazar of KeyOn Communications, who chairs the WCAI 3.65 GHz Working Group. “We offer special appreciation to those who participated in the process. More importantly, we feel that this channel plan is an example of the type of work that can be accomplished through collective efforts and within the WCAI to facilitate future commercial successes in the band.”
The 3.65 GHz band presents a unique opportunity to operators in the United States to expand their coverage to new markets and improve the economics and performance of their networks. Over a thousand operators nationwide have applied for or received a license to operate in these lightly licensed frequencies since they were made available by the FCC in 2005. However, the band has still not reached a critical mass of deployment and harbors significant potential for growth.
“We initially focused on developing the channel plan, because we saw it as a critical component of the best practices that are essential to the full utilization of the 3.65 GHz band in the U.S. and around the globe,” said WCAI President Fred Campbell, who played an instrumental role in developing the rules for the 3.65 GHz band in his previous position as an FCC Wireless Bureau Chief. “As we continue to work on best practices, we will consider whether regulatory changes are also required to unlock the band’s potential for the benefit of the industry and consumers alike.”
“I would like to thank our members for their hard work to bring this effort to fruition and in particular WCAI 3.65 GHz Technical Subcommittee Chairman Lauriston Hardin of Hardin & Associates for his valuable contribution and leadership,” Mr. Campbell said.
WCAI will hold a day-long 3.65 GHz Summit today to examine the remaining technical and regulatory challenges facing the 3.65 GHz band, look at the business models that have proved successful and discuss the ways to maximize return on investment by unlocking the band’s potential. The Summit will be held as part of the WCAI International Symposium co-located with 4G World on Oct. 18-20 in Chicago.
About the Wireless Communications Association International (WCAI):
Founded in 1988, the Wireless Communications Association International represents the wireless broadband industry worldwide. Its member companies include leading carriers, vendors and system integrators on six continents.
As the global voice of the wireless broadband industry, WCAI is an established leader in government relations, technology standards, business development and industry event organization. For more information, visit:
www.wcai.com.
