The FCC has granted Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) a nearly one-year extension to conduct LTE-U tests with Verizon (NYSE: VZ) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and in Cary and Raleigh, North Carolina.
In its application, Qualcomm said it's working with partner companies to develop equipment that will use multiple technologies, including 802.11 and LTE, in unlicensed 5 GHz frequency bands. Its request for special temporary authority (STA) sought to conduct very small scale product development testing of the equipment at the trial sites.
The purpose of the testing is to evaluate the technical performance of pre-commercial LTE-U equipment, operating in downlink-only mode in the UNII-1 and UNII-3 portions of the 5 GHz band, in a highly controlled field environment to assist in the ultimate development of commercial products.
Qualcomm, Verizon and their partner companies also plan to conduct separate and independent LTE-U/Wi-Fi coexistence testing in a real-world environment at a Verizon facility using a coexistence test plan being developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
"This test plan is a product of extensive technical collaboration between the Wi-Fi Alliance, Verizon, Qualcomm, and their partner companies and would be modified as appropriate based on the specific environment to be used for the testing," Qualcomm states in the application. "The Wi-Fi Alliance would be invited to observe these tests. This Wi-Fi Alliance test plan will initially be used for joint coexistence testing to take place within a Wi-Fi Alliance certified lab."
The trial consists of up to 30 small cells and access points; some equipment also includes a 3GPP LTE base station that operates on 3GPP Band 2, also known as the 1900 MHz PCS band. Transmission on PCS spectrum is to occur only with authorization from the respective spectrum licensee.
According to Qualcomm, mobile units also will operate within the RF coverage area of the small cell devices. The mobile units are receive-only in the 5 GHz spectrum but also include an LTE transmitter that operates on 3GPP Band 2. Up to 14 mobile stations will be used in Raleigh and up to 28 mobile stations in Oklahoma for a total possible number of 42 LTE-U capable mobile devices.
For more:
- see this application grant
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