Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

Sprint Details Spectrum Weighting Proposal, Maintains Caveats for 2.5 GHz

By Andrew Berg | February 12, 2014

Share

Sprint proposed specific spectrum weights in a recent filing with the FCC.  Sprint today laid out details on how it suggests the FCC address reforms to its spectrum screen. The carrier suggested the FCC weigh spectrum on two factors, including any given frequency’s propagation characteristics, as well the cost to a carrier to deploy on that spectrum in a given area (i.e. rural, suburban, dense metropolitan). 

Sprint provided proposed spectrum weights aim to demonstrated “the relative cost to deploy spectrum for each environment and each band,” in an FCC filing. The included table also show spectrum weights derived for each of the commercial mobile spectrum bands currently included in the spectrum screen for each of the three environments. 

According to Sprint, the spectrum weight in a band and environment is the inverse of the cost to deploy in that same band and environment. For example, the higher the cost to deploy in a band and environment, the lower the competitive value or utility of that band.

Verizon and AT&T have both made the case that Sprint is playing both sides of the fence. The carrier routinely boasts its holdings of 2.5 GHz spectrum as the backbone of its new high-speed Spark broadband network, but then argues to the FCC that its spectrum holdings are not as useful as those in the lower bands held by its rivals. 

In a February 5 filing with the FCC, Verizon argued, “Sprint ignores, however, by far the biggest defect in the current application of the Commission’s spectrum screen: it omits 138 MHz of 2.5 GHz Broadband Radio Service and Educational Broadband Service spectrum, most of which is held by Sprint itself.” 

“That means that the current screen counts only 452 MHz in total of spectrum suitable and available for commercial mobile services,” Verizon continued. “Omitting Sprint’s 2.5 GHz spectrum (as well as Dish’s AWS-4 spectrum) makes the screen seriously inaccurate – it counts barely more than 70 percent of the spectrum that should count.” 

Verizon went so far as to produce a chart that demonstrates each carrier’s spectrum holdings in terms of megahertz. The chart, Verizon suggests, reflects that Sprint is the least efficient of the four national carriers, serving fewer customers per megahertz of spectrum than AT&T, Verizon Wireless, or T-Mobile. Verizon says Sprint is the least efficient user of spectrum in the market.

“Yet, ironically, it is Sprint that continues to lobby for limits on the ability of other carriers to acquire additional spectrum resources,” the filing stated. 

Sprint returned fire, arguing that the advantages associated with the propagation characteristics of higher-frequency bands (notably, greater frequency reuse ability in dense urban areas, potentially providing greater capacity) can be accomplished with lower-frequency spectrum through conventional techniques such as reduced power and antenna downtilt. That said, Sprint also says that by contrast, the advantages associated with low-band spectrum – effective wide-area coverage and in-building penetration – cannot be replicated by an operator in higher-band spectrum without devoting significantly higher capital.

Sprint said it anticipates that the Commission’s revision to its spectrum holdings policies will add a number of additional bands, or portions of bands, to its revised spectrum screen. In particular, Sprint did not object to including the AWS-4 band, however it stopped short of giving its blessing to including all of the 2.5 GHz band, portions of which it says are limited by Globalstar’s existing MSS operations on the same channel. 

“Nonetheless, Sprint does not object to adding BRS channels F4 and E4 to the screen since these channels are now more routinely available for mobile broadband use,” Sprint said. 

Sprint also said the H-Block, AWS-3, and 600 MHz spectrum in the upcoming incentive auction should also be added to the screen once service rules have been finalized and auctions have been conducted. The framework set forth in the Appendix can be used to develop spectrum weights for each of these bands, and revised weighted spectrum screen numbers can be developed as each band is added.


Filed Under: Telecommunications (Spectrum)

 

Related Articles Read More >

HH-Hood-Latch_Image
Southco’s ultra-thin hood latch for limited-space applications
Flying Focus: Controlling Lasers Through Time and Space
AT&T Scoops Up More Spectrum in Mexico at 2.5 GHz Auction
Tuesdays with Roger: New Millimeter Wave Spectrum Auctions

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings