Samsung seeks permission to conduct 28 GHz demos for ‘various customers’

Samsung Electronics America has filed applications to demonstrate 5G systems to “various customers,” which are unnamed, but one of the locations where it wants to conduct a demo happens to be Verizon’s hometown of Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

The tests, which would occur in the 28 GHz range periodically over an interim time period, are also slated for Bridgewater and Bernardsville in New Jersey. A separate application seeks permission to conduct demonstrations in Mountain View, California, also in the 28 GHz range. Samsung is asking for permission to do the tests between Oct. 1 of this year and April 1 of 2017.

The applications provided scant other information, but stated the demos would be operating at low power and within a very limited area of operation. Gear would be provided by various manufacturers.

Samsung certainly is not unique in seeking Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC to conduct demonstrations and tests related to 5G. Numerous vendors and operators are approaching the FCC for permission to conduct experiments in the 28 GHz band, as well as other bands.

Samsung in particular has previously conducted tests with Verizon in the 28 GHz band, one that Samsung identified earlier this year as one of the most promising for near-term 5G and millimeter wave services, along with the 39 GHz band. The 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands can support wide channel bandwidths, which are necessary to provide the kinds of performance gains that are expected for 5G.

Earlier this year, Samsung announced that it had concluded a series of mobile, fixed wireless and in-building penetration 5G wireless tests at Verizon headquarters in Basking Ridge, where the tests delivered multi-Gbps speeds, including live streaming of 360-degree virtual reality content using Samsung Gear VR. Sprint also used Samsung Gear during its 5G demo outside Levi’s Stadium during the Copa America Centenario tournament in June.

Samsung also provided technical demonstrations of millimeter wave technology for FCC commissioners earlier this year before they voted to unleash nearly 11 GHz of high-frequency spectrum for mobile and fixed wireless broadband – 3.85 GHz of licensed spectrum and 7 GHz of unlicensed spectrum. The commissioners voted to create a new Upper Microwave Flexible Use service in the 28 GHz (27.5-28.35 GHz), 37 GHz (37-38.6 GHz) and 39 GHz (38.6-40 GHz) bands, along with a new unlicensed band at 64-71 GHz. The FCC continues to seek comment on bands above 95 GHz.

For more:
- see this application and this application  

Related articles:
Verizon's Shammo: 5G pilot in 2017 is all about fixed wireless, not mobility
Verizon to test 5G at 28 GHz in Texas with Samsung
Samsung provides technical demonstrations of millimeter wave for FCC