c-band
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AT&T and Verizon give FAA another year to remedy C-band 5G interference issues
Airlines are retrofitting altimeters with radio frequency filters.
AT&T and Verizon finally switch on their C-Band 5G networks
Verizon expects to hit over 1,700 cities this month, but AT&T's rollout is more limited.
AT&T and Verizon delay 5G rollout at some airports after airlines warn of disruptions
AT&T and Verizon say they will voluntarily delay the deployment of their new C-Band 5G services near some US airports.
US airlines warn C-Band 5G could cause 'catastrophic disruption'
The airline industry claims a “catastrophic” event could unfold on Wednesday when AT&T and Verizon activate their new C-Band 5G networks.
FAA reveals 50 airports that will have C-band 5G buffer zones
The airports excluding C-band 5G include some of the busiest hubs in the US.
AT&T and Verizon reject US call to delay 5G expansions over interference
AT&T and Verizon have dismissed a US request to delay their 5G expansions over interference issues, instead suggesting a compromise.
AT&T and Verizon might delay 5G expansion again over FAA concerns
AT&T and Verizon were supposed to resume their 5G expansions on January 5 but might now need to wait two more weeks due to FAA concerns.
AT&T, Verizon offer to limit 5G power over aircraft safety concerns
It's a rare move for two carriers with a lot invested in their respective C-band rollouts.
AT&T and Verizon will delay 5G expansion over aircraft safety issues
AT&T and Verizon are delaying their rollout of 5G on the C-band to address FAA worries about threats to aircraft safety.
AT&T adds 5G to its legacy unlimited data plans
AT&T has enabled 5G for its legacy unlimited data plans, saving you from having to switch just to get improved performance.
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile spent $78 billion on C-band spectrum for 5G
Verizon spent $45.4 billion, more than every other participant combined, to secure 3,511 individual 20Mhz blocks of spectrum across the country.
FCC votes to auction C-band satellite spectrum for 5G use
FCC chairman Ajit Pai has been pressing for an auction of "mid-band" wireless spectrum that could be useful for expanding the reach of 5G, and on Friday the commission voted to approve rules for just such a redistribution. The rules cover "C-Band" spectrum that satellite companies like Intelsat, SES SA and Telesat are currently using, and include payment incentives for those companies to speed plans to shift operations away from those frequencies by dates in 2021 and 2023. Otherwise, the spectrum will need to be freed up no later than December 5th, 2025. Those payments could add up to $9.7 billion, and dissenting FCC commissioners argued that there wasn't enough consideration on how much they should be or how funds from the auction should be distributed, and that the FCC was misusing its powers under the law. Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement (PDF) that, "We could start a fund a new initiative to help with rural broadband. We could fund the nation's transition to next-generation 911, which is sorely needed and would benefit public safety in every state. Or we could use some of the revenues to seed a Homework Gap Trust Fund to help our nation's students stuck in the digital divide. It could support WiFi hotspots for loan in every school library—and virtually eliminate the Homework Gap overnight."
FCC chairman wants public auction to repurpose satellite bands for 5G
The FCC's ongoing 5G push might set up a conflict with the satellite industry. Chairman Ajit Pai is pressing for a public auction of wireless frequencies in the C-band spectrum (the 4GHz to 8GHz range often used by satellite companies) for the sake of 5G service. This would help the FCC clear up "significant" frequency space in a quick fashion, generate money for the government and "ensure continued delivery" of existing services, Pai argued. He hoped to auction off a 280MHz slice while leaving the upper 200MHz available.
Cisco successfully tests orbital IP router, Pirate Bay 'very interested'
It's been almost three years since Cisco and the DoD announced the IRIS project. Short for Internet Routing in Space, the idea is to route IP traffic between satellites instead of bouncing it on and off ground stations. The whole thing has moved forward steadily since we first caught wind of it, culminating with the launch of the first Cisco Space Router aboard an Atlas V rocket last November. According to The Register, the company has just finished its first in-orbit test of the thing, and -- lo' and behold -- it's a success! After some more testing by the DoD (which will go down between now and April), Cisco plans on running yet more trials. And after that? With any luck, IRIS will extend "constant and pervasive" Internet access to areas not served by traditional ground or 3G networks. And never again will a single person have to live their life without having seen the Bill O'Reilly "F**k It, We'll Do It Live!" rant.
WiMAX could interfere with satellite communications?
Yeah, all those sticky sweet stories about WiMAX actually happening this decade or possibly showing up in a device or two were really getting on our nerves. Now it seems the "little wireless standard that couldn't" is back to form with a report from the Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG). Apparently those folks found "conclusive" results of "unacceptable" levels of interference from WiMAX of satellite signals in the C-band. Naturally, it sounds like this group's primary purpose is to come up with data like this to protect that satellite spectrum turf, but it's disconcerting nonetheless, and we'd love to hear from the WiMAX camp on the issue -- if it comes down to a choice between mobile broadband and a new season of Meerkat Manor in HD, we don't want to be the ones making the hard decisions. [Via New Scientist]
US military to launch WiFi router into space
The mysterious expanses of space have been seeing quite a lot of action lately, but rather than watching a couple of autonomous crafts tackle tasks for kicks, the US military is hoping to set their next router right beside a constellation. Partnering with Intelsat and Cisco Systems, the US Department of Defense is hoping "to test an internet router in space in hopes of benefiting civilian broadband satellite communications." Additionally, the Internet Routing In Space (IRIS) project aims to assist in all sorts of "military communications," as it routes IP traffic between space-bound sats and cuts down on the time required to divvy out information. As expected, voice, video, and data will all be supported, and once the three-year initiative is complete, "the technology will be available for commercial use" -- you know, in case you're looking to relocated your networking gear to the Black Hole.
