Plan to participate in TIA’s annual strategic Conference, October 7-10, 2013 in Washington, DC.
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TIA Expresses Strong Support for Expansion of Unlicensed Access to 5 GHz Band
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ashley Rook, +1.202.429.4929, AshleyRook@Rational360.com
TIA Expresses Strong Support for Expansion of Unlicensed Access to 5 GHz Band
Files Comments with FCC Saying Expansion is Vital for Meeting Growing Data Demand
ARLINGTON, VA (May 28, 2013) – In comments filed today with the Federal Communications Commission, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) said that it strongly supports the expansion of unlicensed access to the 5 GHz Band on a technology-neutral basis. TIA, the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, believes this expansion is vital for meeting growing mobile data demands and will encourage continued innovation, technological development, and investment.
TIA President Grant Seiffert commented, “America is experiencing exploding demand for wireless data connectivity that cannot possibly be satisfied by licensed spectrum alone. Consumers and businesses — today’s society as a whole —depend on their mobile devices, and need access everywhere. Of the 326 million connections to U.S. mobile networks, 174 million consisted of smartphones, laptops, tablets or modems.”
Seiffert continued, “By making available, on a technology-neutral basis, the large swath of contiguous spectrum at 5 GHz available, the FCC can help provide the high capacity throughput that is needed to support advanced applications, as well as optimizing a more efficient channel arrangement.”
Unlicensed spectrum plays an increasingly important role in meeting the escalating demand for wireless data traffic. Commercial wireless networks are already offloading 47 percent of all traffic to fixed wireline networks and that offloading is projected to grow to 66 percent by 2017.
Technologies already are being introduced for unlicensed use that reach unprecedented throughput per second based on the wider channel bandwidths that can be achieved at 5 GHz. These include the next generation of Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11ac, which allows a significant increase in data rates by empowering wider channel bandwidths than prior Wi-Fi standards, and is designed to take maximum advantage of the large contiguous 5 GHz band that would be created in the United States by designation of the 5350-5470 MHz and 5850-5925 MHz bands for “Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure” (U-NII) use.
“TIA supports allowing U-NII use of additional 5 GHz band spectrum under the technology-neutral approach could provide capacity for data offload by heterogeneous networks, particularly in urban regions, airports, stadiums and other area where congestion is a growing concern,” Seiffert said. “Such expansion, however, must be accomplished in a manner that affords suitable protections for incumbents.”
About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents manufacturers and suppliers of global communications networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org for more details.
TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and is a proud sponsor of ANSI’s Standards Boost Business campaign. Visit www.standardsboostbusiness.org for details.
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