FCC Starts Exploring 700 MHz Interoperability Rules Smaller Competitors Argue They'd Provide Competitive Assistance Verizon's and AT&T's LTE networks are not compatible, with Verizon's network running mostly in the 746-787MHz range, while AT&T's operating primarily in the 704-746MHz range. Verizon's spectrum only slightly overlaps AT&T's, so you can't take devices from one carrier to another. T-Mobile was among several competitors and groups (MetroPCS, C Spire, the Rural Cellular Association) who recently asked the FCC to consider making the entire 700MHz band interoperable, in order to aid competitor LTE roaming and help the public-safety community. Most smaller carriers operate in Band Class 12 while AT&T operates in Band Class 17. In addition to roaming issues, smaller carriers argue that unless interoperability rules are in place, handset makers will cater primarily to the larger competitors, who already enjoy numerous competitive advantages. The FCC yesterday granted that request, and announced they'd launched a proceeding exploring new 700MHz interoperability rules. "An industry-led solution would be the preferable solution, and multiple stakeholders have indicated that a unified band class can be win-win if interference concerns are addressed," FCC boss Julius Genachowski said in a statement. "Of course, we are launching this proceeding because no solution has been reached yet and we will be closely monitoring progress in addition to developing a record as part of this proceeding."
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 | | Hope so This is really a no-brainier, most engineers say the interference problems could be resolved, of course I think AT&T and Verizon will fight tooth and nail against it so it very well may never happen. | |
|  | | | Re: Hope so said by MovieLover76:This is really a no-brainier, most engineers say the interference problems could be resolved, of course I think AT&T and Verizon will fight tooth and nail against it so it very well may never happen.
I'm sure they will and one can never underestimate the tenacity and influence of corporations but hopefully this will go the way of cell number portability. Remember when it wasn't allowed and we were told the "market" was the best solution, that carriers could work it out themselves, that consumers didn't want it, that government regulation was too heavy-handed, unnecessary and would drive up costs and herald the coming of the Apocalypse? Yeah, that didn't happen.
I'm sure as LTE interoperability rules gains traction, we'll see the same rehashed nonsense again. Hopefully, this time the FCC won't take as long as they did with cell number portability and push it through. | |
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lijacobs
join:2010-07-30
Lawrence, NY
kudos:1 | Compatability Hopefully the technology differences will also be part of the equation, most notably VZ being cellular and AT&T being PCS. | |
| | bklassPremium
join:2012-02-06
Canada | Re: Compatability I'm fairly certain that Verizon uses CDMA while AT&T uses HSPA (+). Those are the data protocols, what you are referring to is specific bands of spectrum (700MHz is known as MBS or "Mobile Broadband Services" as compared to PCS, Cellular or AWS) | |
| | |  DaveDudeNo Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1
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| Re: Compatability said by bklass:I'm fairly certain that Verizon uses CDMA while AT&T uses HSPA (+). Those are the data protocols, what you are referring to is specific bands of spectrum (700MHz is known as MBS or "Mobile Broadband Services" as compared to PCS, Cellular or AWS)
The whole cdma/ hspa is a moot point. How many phones do at least 3 protocols. Just about all. Any gsm phone can do gsm/hspa , and lte soon. LTE should have been interoperatable worldwide , hooray tower of babble.
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| | | |  GbcueP.E.Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
kudos:8 | Re: Compatability said by DaveDude:said by bklass:I'm fairly certain that Verizon uses CDMA while AT&T uses HSPA (+). Those are the data protocols, what you are referring to is specific bands of spectrum (700MHz is known as MBS or "Mobile Broadband Services" as compared to PCS, Cellular or AWS)
The whole cdma/ hspa is a moot point. How many phones do at least 3 protocols. Just about all. Any gsm phone can do gsm/hspa , and lte soon. LTE should have been interoperatable worldwide , hooray tower of babble. HSPA on CDMA != HSPA on GSM
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| | | | | DaveDudeNo Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1 Reviews:
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| Re: Compatability said by Gbcue:said by DaveDude:said by bklass:I'm fairly certain that Verizon uses CDMA while AT&T uses HSPA (+). Those are the data protocols, what you are referring to is specific bands of spectrum (700MHz is known as MBS or "Mobile Broadband Services" as compared to PCS, Cellular or AWS)
The whole cdma/ hspa is a moot point. How many phones do at least 3 protocols. Just about all. Any gsm phone can do gsm/hspa , and lte soon. LTE should have been interoperatable worldwide , hooray tower of babble. HSPA on CDMA != HSPA on GSM There is just HSPA (umts) which is part of the GSM family.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3gpp
and any cdma old school system can add HSPA ( umts) , it part pf the spec to be able to do it. Telstra and Bell Canada have already done it.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed···t_Access
Telstra announced that its CDMA-EVDO network would be replaced with a HSDPA network (since named NextG), offering high speed internet, mobile television and traditional telephony and video calling. Rogers Wireless deployed HSDPA system 850/1900 in Canada on April 1, 2007. In July 2008, Bell Canada and Telus announced a joint plan to expand their current shared EVDO/CDMA network to include HSDPA.[6]
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| BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Not only does that statement make no sense, but it is 100% wrong. Verizon and AT&T both use both bands, depending on what they own in what market. | |
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mike656
join:2002-04-21
Frederick, MD | I'm sure that.... ...the FCC will screw this up like they have done just about everything in the past. This new (700 MHz) spectrum was the opportunity to create real competition in this country but it was botched from the start. IMO what they should have done is auctioned off 4 20 MHz national licenses, with rules in place that one carrier can't hold the license for more than 1 block, plus solid buildout requirements. This would have enabled all 4 big carriers to build a base 10+10 LTE network, which could then be supplemented with AWS holdings and other specturm in their portfolios. No real competition will ever come until more than 2 players have spectrum below 1 GHz, at least Sprint has a chance with the 800 MHz SMR licenses, but I have less faith in their ability to do things right than the FCC. | |
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