Battelle announced that the FCC is seeking public comment on the company's petition to adopt new service rules that will open up fallow spectrum at 102-109.5 GHz.
The spectrum band has already been allocated primarily for fixed and mobile communications use. Under the rules proposed by Battelle, the band could be opened for the use of technology it has developed as well as competing technologies developed by others.
The Columbus, Ohio, company claims to have spent a decade developing technology that can open up the spectrum for public and commercial purposes. The 102-109.5 GHz band could be key to delivering wireless data streams at rates of 10 Gbps and greater, "effectively combining the speed and capacity of fiber optic cable with the low-cost and flexibility of traditional wireless technology," Battelle contends.
The company said its technology involves "low-cost, high-capacity, moveable data links" that can be used for any variety of applications that require the low-cost, rapid delivery of large amounts of data from one location to another.
"FCC action will help address the growing demand for reliable, interference-free wireless service and support the cost-effective delivery of data streams of 10G and greater, and the equipment technology is ready to deliver on this great potential," said Philip Schofield, Battelle's manager of sensors and communication.
Researchers around the world have been examining the use of millimeter-wave spectrum, from 60 GHz to 90 GHz and even exceeding 100 GHz, for backhaul and other applications. Such spectrum is considered a critical component of future 5G networks.
For more:
- see this Battelle release
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