WiMAX Forum, Satellite Group to Discuss C-Band Interference
The Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and WiMAX Forum agreed Fri. to hold talks starting this week over what satellite operators view as a major threat: WiMAX use of the 3.4-3.7 GHz band. The deal came at a GVF summit on the band expected to be a major area of debate at next year’s WRC meeting in Geneva.
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Traditional satellite spectrum already is seeing use for wireless Internet in Europe and Asia. In the U.S., the FCC is examining use of the 3650-3700 MHz band for wireless broadband. Forum speakers warned of a world threat to the standard and extended C-band spectrum, which GVF calls “the bread and butter of the global satellite community.”
Rob Kubik of Motorola, representing the WiMAX Forum, warned satellite operators against hyperbole. He cited a statement by GVF that mobile WiMAX transmitters are “dirty’ and radiate signals out of band, corrupting other reception.” Making such statements, he said, “is not doing us any good” and makes officials at companies that want to offer WiMAX “apprehensive” about sitting down with satellite companies.
“From the WiMAX point of view, and even from a moral point of view, we never want to see interference in any band,” Kubik added. “I think we need to work closer together. The forum and the WiMAX Forum need to get together and discuss the issue on an open basis… We need to build a relationship here.” Kubik said Motorola will offer devices that operate in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band in countries where broadband providers have been licensed to offer services.
Satellite officials at the summit, meanwhile, warned of a major threat to their systems from interference. “We're in for a hard time,” said Dick Tauber, vp-transmissions systems & new technology at CNN News Group: “We've got to turn to the regulators and to the operators of satellite systems and to the controllers of spectrum and bandwidth to come up with solutions that are workable, and where they can go out to those people who are doing the interference and say you have to stop this now or else.”
“What we're talking about here is the band for distribution of TV signals around the country and around the world,” said Intelsat Vp Kalpak Gude. “The revenues associated with that… are just enormous. The impact of taking that distribution path and creating interference in that path which makes it unreliable… ultimately is a hit on availability.”
Satellite power levels are low enough and the technology sensitive enough that satellite operators can’t tolerate even minor interference, Gude said. He cited recent problems in Bolivia, where a wireless Internet provider began tests prior to deployment. Intelsat customers immediately complained of interference wiping out TV reception. Because the test occurred as the World Cup was about to start, a sensitive political time, regulators delayed launch at least 90 days and began to look hard at whether Internet systems can use the satellite band.
“We hope that in other countries of the world it doesn’t get that far before there is a recognition that the interference is real, the interference is significant,” he said. “Nobody is devaluing the importance of WiMAX or broadband wireless solutions generally. What we are saying is looking at the satellite band for that as a band that can be used with inflicting little pain on existing users is a fallacy.”
Anthony Baker, representing the European Satellite Operators Assn., said mobile WiMAX transmitters pose a special threat, since their mobility means they can show up anywhere, in close proximity to satellite receivers. Baker sees little room for compromise and satellite operators have to win the battle globally, he said. “Once it becomes mobile you cannot plan around a satellite receiver,” he said. “There is never any isolation between the systems. This is a question for the policymakers. They have to choose which system they want… It is a binary decision, choose one or the other. They cannot operate together.”
Officials at the conference told us they believe talks between GVF and the WiMAX Forum will help both sides. “Hopefully it will give us a better understanding of where we both stand on the issue,” Kubik said. “You probably saw the handout they gave out that talks about mobile WiMAX being a problem. Well, there is no mobile WIMAX in the market right now. I think a better understanding of where we stand as far as product development going forward is good.
Kubik drew a parallel to 800 MHz interference, addressed by a 2004 agreement between public safety and Nextel after years of discussions. “Nobody wants the interference,” he said. “Everybody is upset that we had the interference at 800 MHz like we did. That was a situation where we just had to have a difficult solution that we're working through now. “
“To the extent that there are synergies and there is a shared interest in coordinating and maintaining integrity of signals for both services that is underlying all the discussions we'll be having with the WiMAX Forum,” said GVF Secy. Gen. David Hartshorn. “We have an expectation that it will be cooperative and not controversial.”