The first six test labs bearing the “WInnForum CBRS Approved” logo for Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) testing have been approved.
The approvals are considered the first wave of WInnForum Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) test labs, with more to follow, according to Lee Pucker, CEO for the WInnForum, in a press release.
Here are the six test labs that won approval:
- Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (Hong Kong), Taoyuan Branch, Mobile Communications
- DEKRA Certification
- Nemko (multiple approved locations)
- Nokia Global Product Compliance Laboratory
- Sporton International
- TUV SUD Canada
The FCC will be certifying CBRDs using FCC Authorized Test Labs. Obtaining an FCC certification requires demonstrating that the CBSD meets the general and technical requirements for communication with the Spectrum Access System (SAS), among other requirements, according to WInnForum.
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While the FCC is still considering revising the rules for the CBRS band in the U.S., a lot of work continues behind the scenes to prepare it for commercial deployments. The WInn Forum in particular has been instrumental in leading the way, working on specifications while the CBRS Alliance fostered the ecosystem and created the OnGo brand to identify certified CBRS products.
The 3.5 GHz band is unique in the U.S. in that it’s a three-pronged system that protects incumbent government users but frees up spectrum for licensed and unlicensed users. Environmental sensors are being deployed to work with the SAS administrators so that a system of dynamic spectrum sharing can happen.
Early in the process of developing a sharing regime for the 3.5 GHz CBRS band, there was talk that if successful, a similar strategy might be applied to other bands. Federated Wireless, one of the entities getting ready to act as a SAS administrator, recently told the FCC that a similar dynamic spectrum sharing approach could be implemented in the 4.9 GHz band.
In fact, a sharing scheme could be set up more quickly and efficiently for the 4.9 GHz band because a lot of work already has been done at 3.5 GHz. Plus, equipment being developed for CBRS can easily be modified to work at 4.9 GHz, further reducing the time frame for a variety of equipment becoming available at a reasonable cost, according to Federated.