Wireless Spectrum For Dummies Cheat Sheet

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Wireless Spectrum for Dummies
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business opportunities. The U.S. government and the Federal
The electromagnetic spectrum has
AND TYPE IN
been around for as long as the universe,
Communications Commission have responded by reallocating
Spectrum
but from all the attention heaped on it
huge swaths of spectrum for new uses and auctioning slices to the
recently, you’d think it had just surfaced yesterday. New digital
highest bidders for prices expected to reach well into the billions.
and wireless technologies—from cell phones to satellites
The future of many giant communications companies
to high-definition television—are dramatically changing
rests on the outcome of those auctions. It’s tricky busi-
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how we use the airwaves and presenting enormous new
ness and complex science. Here’s a primer.
MHz
60
Major Commercial Wireless Services*
The radio spectrum starts at 3 KHz
90
AM/FM Radio
Broadcast TV
535 to 1,605 KHz
Channels 2-4 (VHF)
54 to 72 MHz
120
88 to 108 MHz
Channels 5-6 (VHF)
76 to 88 MHz
Channels 7-13 (VHF)
174 to 216 MHz
150
Channels 14-20 (UHF)
470 to 512 MHz
Digital TV
Channels 21-36 (UHF)
512 to 608 MHz
54 to 88 MHz
180
Channels 38-69 (UHF)
614 to 806 MHz
174 to 216 MHz
See also 3G Broadband Wireless below
470 to 806 MHz
210
Broadcasters have started transmitting digital signals, but
rollout is slow due to sluggish sales of digital TV sets and
3G Broadband Wireless
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reluctance by cable operators to carry HDTV. By 2006, all
746 to 764 MHz; 776 to 794 MHz
broadcasters are expected to switch over to digital TV,
To be used for “third-generation” advanced wireless services.
although that deadline may not hold. Broadcasters’ analog
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Now houses TV channels 60-69 but is scheduled for auction
spectrum will be reauctioned for new wireless services.
in March 2001. 3G services may not launch for years,
300
though, because broadcasters don’t have to leave the band
MHz
until 2006 at the earliest.
Cellular Phone Service
600
806 to 902 MHz
Waning in popularity as PCS takes off.
3G Broadband Wireless (proposed)
900
1,710 to 1,855 MHz
2,500 to 2,690 MHz
Personal Communications Service (PCS)
1,200
The Clinton administration has proposed auctioning this
1,850 to 1,990 MHz
spectrum for 3G broadband wireless services.
This band is used for digital cellular phone service.
1,500
Considered a 2G (second-generation) cellular service.
Dominated by big carriers such as AT&T, Cingular Wireless
Wireless Communications Service (WCS)
1,800
(a joint venture of SBC and BellSouth), and Sprint.
2,305 to 2,320 MHz; 2,345 to 2,360 MHz
Intended for wireless data services; proximity to the satellite
2,100
Satellite-Delivered Digital Radio
radio band could make it a good addition to digital radio
services in the future.
2,320 to 2,325 MHz
2,400
Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio paid a
combined $173.2 million for licenses in 1997. They plan
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
2,700
to launch services in spring 2001.
12.2 to 12.7 GHz
3
EchoStar and DirecTV now dominate this fast-growing business,
GHz
Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS)
offering hundreds of TV channels via satellite. They have become
major competitors to cable TV companies. Both DBS firms are
2,150 to 2,680 MHz
6
adding interactivity using wire-line and satellite back channels.
Sprint and WorldCom bought several of the failing “wireless
cable” companies with MMDS spectrum and are converting
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them from TV service to two-way digital data services.
Digital Electronic Message Service (DEMS)
24.25 to 24.45 GHz; 25.05 to 25.25 GHz
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Teledesic
This high-capacity allocation carries a lot of data but the signal
can’t travel far. Teligent owns most of the licenses and offers
18.8 to 19.3 GHz
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broadband data services to businesses in dense, urban areas.
28.6 to 29.1 GHz
Teledesic, the two-way digital satellite service scheduled
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for full deployment by 2005, plans to use the 18-GHz
Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS)
band for downstream transmissions and the 28-GHz
27.5 to 29.5 GHz; 31.0 to 31.3 GHz
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band for upstream. Teledesic’s investors include wireless
XO Communications (the merger of NextLink and Concentric),
pioneer Craig McCaw, Bill Gates, and Saudi prince Al-
a venture founded by Craig McCaw, dominates this band, with
Waleed bin Talal.
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95 percent coverage in the top 30 markets. Winstar also holds
some licenses here. Both are building fixed wireless systems.
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39 GHz Fixed Wireless Service
38.6 GHz to 40 GHz
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*This diagram shows only a select number of U.S. commercial services.
Winstar was the top bidder at the May auction of this
GHz
Not represented are hundreds of more minor commercial and
spectrum, paying $161 million for 931 licenses. It plans to
noncommercial services. The government is the single largest user of
offer fixed wireless services in combination with its LMDS
U.S. airwaves. It runs services ranging from law enforcement radio to
capacity at 28 GHz.
satellite space research and top-secret military communications.
The radio spectrum ends at 300 GHz
w w w . e c o m p a n y . c o m
D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 0

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