WASHINGTON �The FCC has given Qualcomm permission to move forward with LTE-U product development testing at four network sites around the country, in conjunction with T-Mobile US.
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This is the second Special Temporary Authority Qualcomm has received for LTE-U product development testing; the first�was�with Verizon Wireless�and involved about 30 small cells and access points within macro cell coverage in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Oklahoma City. No results from that product development testing have been publicly discussed, according to�rcrwireless.com.
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The four sites are T-Mobile US� headquarters of Bellevue, Wash.; Simi Valley, Calif.; Richardson, Texas; and Las Vegas. Qualcomm said testing will involve up to 10 small cells and access points, with mobile units that are receive-only at 5 GHz, but able to transmit on LTE Band 4.
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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 in order to assist in the ultimate development of commercial products.
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This testing is separate from the Wi-Fi coexistence testing Qualcomm plans to conduct in cooperation with the Wi-Fi Alliance as part of its ongoing efforts to assuageongoing concernswithin the Wi-Fi community that LTE-U will unduly interfere with Wi-Fi at 5 GHz.
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The Wi-Fi Alliance isin the process of validating a test plan for ensuring LTE-U/Wi-Fi coexistenceand hopes to deliver it by the end of summer.
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