Access Spectrum, an Upper 700 MHz A Block licensee, said the FCC's authorization of TDD equipment for the band opens up the spectrum to numerous new uses by vertical industries.
Access and its sister company Full Spectrum, a TDD technology supplier, submitted documentation in favor of the FCC's authorization.
"These developments are crucial steps in showing that enterprises can use the A Block for productive, innovative applications through the secondary spectrum market," said Michael Gottdenker, chairman and CEO of Access. The company is one of three licensees that together hold the entire Upper 700 MHz A Block, which includes 757-758 and 787-788 MHz spectrum.
Gottdenker suggested technology companies, critical infrastructure enterprises and government entities could use the spectrum to provide M2M communications, smart grid applications, healthcare connectivity and high-quality data processing. Specific industries cited by the company include social and media platforms, automotive, finance, oil and gas, smart grid/smart home, transportation and telematics.
TD-LTE is potentially one TDD technology that could be used in the Upper 700 MHz A Block.
SNS Research has noted that momentum is building for TD-LTE, with China Mobile's TD-LTE network expected to have 500,000 base stations in operation by the end of 2014, and TD-LTE being launched in the United States by Sprint (NYSE:S).
More than 60 operators have committed to deploy TD-LTE networks, and all major device OEMs, including smartphone leaders Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung, have commercially launched TD-LTE compatible devices, SNS noted. Most of these devices support both TDD and FDD modes of operation over multiple frequency bands.
SNS forecast that TD-LTE infrastructure spending will reach $13 billion by 2020.
For more:
- see this Access Spectrum release
- see this SNS Research release
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