PureWave Networks is deploying a Band Class 14 LTE test network in Silicon Valley to demonstrate small cell performance in various deployment scenarios deemed critical to public-safety networks.
The 700 MHz Band Class 14 spectrum is allocated to the First Responders Network Authority (FirstNet), which is charged with building and operating the LTE-based National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). Equipment vendors have been busy demonstrating their wares in hopes of winning lucrative NPSBN business from the government.
PureWave is supplying its Constellation family of small cell eNodeBs for the test network, which is aimed at deployable networks, multi-tenant small cells and a multi-operator core network (MOCN). The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said it is collaborating with a number of industry partners to evaluate virtualized evolved packet core (EPC) solutions and "EPC-lite" options hosted within the eNodeB itself.
"In addition to increasing network capacity, small cells are the only effective solution for providing coverage in indoor public venues where public safety communications are required and for providing deployable, ad-hoc network coverage for incident management and event support," said Ronen Vengosh, PureWave's vice president of marketing and business development.
Meanwhile, FirstNet announced the appointment of TJ Kennedy as deputy general manager. Kennedy was formerly Raytheon's director of public safety and security with responsibility for radio interoperability systems. The announcement of Kennedy's hiring came two days after he started with FirstNet.
In addition, FirstNet hired Ed Parkinson, a former staff member of the House Homeland Security Committee, as director of government affairs.
The FirstNet board also has extended for negotiations over Band 14 spectrum-lease agreements with recipients of stimulus grants from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the state of Texas on behalf of Harris County. The six BTOPs that have not yet signed lease agreements with FirstNet now have until Aug. 13 to resolve negotiations, while the state of Texas has until Aug. 29. The lease agreements are necessary for the BTOP projects to move forward using Band 14 spectrum for their public-safety LTE networks.
For more:
- see this PureWave release
- see this FirstNet release
- see this Urgent Communications article
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