Spectrum Bridge | Welcome to the Exchange

Spectrum Bridge Inc. is creating the world's first real time online marketplace for radio spectrum. The Company's proprietary technology simplifies and enables the untapped mass market for secondary spectrum access.

Google's 700MHz Wish Comes True

If you haven't heard yet, the nationwide block of spectrum in the 700MHz band being auctioned by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission received sufficient high dollar bids today to exceed the "reserve," or minimum price of US$4.6 billion, which will require any winning wirelesss operator to keep the spectrum open.

FCC begins new round of white-spaces testing - RCR Wireless News

The FCC said upcoming white-spaces testing will evaluate gear submitted by Adaptrum Communications Inc, Microsoft, Motorola and Philips Electronics.

Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc., the nation’s third and fourth largest mobile-phone operators, respectively, recently entered the debate to voice support for a fixed licensing scheme that would offer a less costly option for wireless backhaul services.

Motorola Submits White Space Device for FCC Testing

Motorola has delivered and demonstrated a prototype white space device (WSD)—or, as Motorola calls it, a Cognitive Radio Device—to test whether it can sense, and thus avoid, interfering with DTV signals.

Motorola officials gave the device to FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff at a meeting Nov. 15 and dropped off a two-page sheet of instructions for operating and testing the device. Motorola previously demonstrated a prototype device to FCC staff Aug. 30.

In an FCC filing, the company said the device uses a "geolocation database that is augmented by sensing algorithms" to determine which TV channels are available for use.

EU: European telecoms framework review

Spectrum liberalisation and secondary trading: Spectrum policy was one of the most outdated and bureaucratic areas in need of most reform. In our view the proposals are positive and amount to giving something back to operators after the intrusive retail regulation this summer over international roaming. The digital dividend spectrum has great potential to improve the availability of broadband in rural areas, although the commission must be mindful of technical aspects, such as problems with interference.

Vanu announces 700 MHz prototype, dual-mode SDR deployment

Demonstrated before two potential clients—including a carrier—the Vanu/BitWave prototype supports cellular waveforms in the 700, 850, 1800 and 1900 MHz bands for both CDMA and GSM operation. The prototype uses BitWave’s Softransceiver chips, which can receive and transmit a wide range of RF signals, and Vanu’s Anywave software to allow a single Femtocell unit to be built that can provide coverage in numerous deployment scenarios.

Software Defined Radio Forum Launching Special Interest Group for International Tactical Radio Market

Software Defined Radio Forum Launching Special Interest Group for International Tactical Radio Market

AT&T Mobility acquires Aloha’s 700 MHz spectrum for $2.5B - RCR Wireless News

AT&T, which said it remains committed to using Qualcomm Inc.’s MediaFLO network for multimedia wireless broadcasts, said the deal gives it 12 megahertz of spectrum covering 196 million people in 281 markets. AT&T Mobility said the deal is expected to close in the next six to nine months.

Pressure on Radio Spectrum Sharing Will Lead to Greater Deployment of Dynamic Spectrum Access Technologies | Press Release | ABI Research

“Spectrum, especially in the UHF band, is attractive to mobile operators for mobile TV, voice and high-speed data services,” says ABI Research analyst Ian Cox. “It is also used by terrestrial TV broadcasters, the military, and security services, and they all want more of it. Regulators, over the years, have boxed themselves into a corner by allocating it exclusively for individual applications. This can now begin to change as software radio emerges and spectrum sharing becomes feasible.”

Frontline petitions for 700MHz changes

A wireless start-up has launched an appeal with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to try to alter the terms of the forthcoming 700MHz spectrum auction. Frontline Wireless wants the FCC to change the bidding rules to block incumbent operators from building up what it calls an ‘excessive concentration in spectrum holdings’. Frontline also wants smaller operators to be allowed to employ a wholesale business model on the 700MHz network, which will be used to offer both commercial and public safety services, and has called for the minimum bid level to be lowered. Verizon Wireless recently launched its own appeal against the FCC’s rules for the 700MHz auction; it wants open access provisions removed, barring the way for firms such as Google and Apple to use the frequencies to offer a wide range of applications and devices.

Application of spectrum liberalisation and trading to the mobile sector | Ofcom

Application of spectrum liberalisation and trading to the mobile sector | Ofcom

Unlicensed Devices Threaten America

The White Space Coalition says each of the nation’s 210 TV markets will have 15 to 40 unassigned, vacant and unused tv channels (pdf) which “could deliver Internet access to every American household for as little as $10 a month.”

Google, others suffer setback as FCC nixes ‘white space’ devices :: RCR Wireless News

“Coalition members are encouraged that FCC engineers did not find fault with our operating parameters and remain confident that unlicensed television spectrum can be used without interference,” the group stated. “In fact, in its report the FCC stated that ‘the bench test results indicate that under laboratory conditions this device is generally able to reliably detect DTV signals.’ We will work with the Federal Communications Commission to resolve any open questions quickly enabling the FCC to meet its October deadline and delivering on the common goal of driving innovation and expanding Internet access for all Americans.”

700 MHz Explained

The FCC has described the 700 MHz as beachfront property, and has talked up the broadband capabilities of this spectrum swath. About 60 MHz of the former UHF (TV) spectrum is going to be reclaimed by the U.S. government and will be reallocated for public safety and commercial broadband networks. The TV channels using this spectrum are going to go dark on Feb. 19, 2009, if all continues as planned.

Remote-Sensing Devices Fail FCC White Spaces Test

In one test, where a DTV signal could be received by a TV at the test site, "the scanner reported its channel to be free or available 40% to 75% of the time with an average of 58.2% of the time."

An earlier FCC test of TV sets had found interference to all eight models tested.

Divided FCC sets b'band rules

While the auction is known as the 700 MHz for the band in which the frequencies lie, a total of 62 MHz will be sold under the new plan; 22 MHz will be subjected to Martin's "open access" rules, and another 10 will be dedicated to the national public safety network, which will be shared between a commercial operator and public safety agencies.

Wireless spectrum auction presents unique opportunity, says FCC’s Martin

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon finalize its rules for the 700 Megahertz (MHz) auction, the last big slice of premium wireless spectrum the agency is likely to put on the block for years. The sale, which must take place before Jan. 28, is expected to raise billions for the Treasury and has attracted the heated interest of Internet and telecom giants, the public-safety community and public interest groups.

FCC Auction Could Mean More Flexible Wireless Broadband

A coalition that includes Google, Skype, Frontline Wireless, the Consumers Union and Media Access Project and other nonprofit groups, urge the FCC to require the winner to wholesale. "Without the license conditions proposed here, the advantages enjoyed by incumbents in spectrum auctions allow them to freeze out new entrants [and] eliminate rival business models," the group says in a letter to Martin.

Reasons to Focus on MediaFLO: KDDI President Onodera Talks -- Tech-On!

On the other hand, Onodera underscored KDDI's clear focus on "cognitive radio." It is a wireless communication system that actively recognizes surrounding radio environments, available frequency bands and access formats, and chooses an optimum one from several formats it supports.

Google Commits $4.6 Bln to Wireless Auction - Mobile News - Digital Trends

Internet giant Google has promised the FCC it will bid at least $4.6 billion in the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction - if the FCC adopts four openness principles.