- The FCC’s inquiry into the upper C-band kicked off a high-stakes spectrum debate
- Wireless carriers are pushing for the maximum amount of upper C-band spectrum for terrestrial 5G
- But SpaceX and other satellite companies want more spectrum for next-generation satellite services
OK, time to get the popcorn out while we take a stroll through the latest in the war of the terrestrial wireless industry vs. Elon Musk and his space-based friends.
The battle rose to the surface earlier this year when FCC Chairman Brendan Carr launched a formal inquiry, or Notice of Inquiry (NOI) in FCC lingo, to study new ways of making use of 220 megahertz of spectrum in the upper C-band. At 3.98-4.2 GHz, the band is adjacent to the 3.7-3.98 GHz that carriers like Verizon and AT&T are using for 5G, making it a logical extension for 5G and even 6G services.
But Musk’s SpaceX wants a piece of the pie, too, arguing that the FCC should ensure that any upper C-band rule updates take into account next-generation satellite systems. Also making their voices heard: companies like Skylo and Omnispace, which argue that the burgeoning – though not yet totally proven – direct-to-device (D2D) market needs more spectrum, and pronto.
There are other stakeholders involved here as well. Intelsat and SES are primary users of the upper C-band for satellite-based content distribution services, and they’re looking at a complicated series of steps for clearing the band, although they acknowledge that their pending merger will improve the overall feasibility of doing that.
Then there's the aviation industry that uses the adjacent 4.2-4.4 GHz band for altimeters. Some may recall the uproar that happened when the lower C-band spectrum was about to be deployed. The FCC is taking that into account and looking for advice on how to introduce new services in the upper C-band while protecting the altimeters.
Throw this all together and what do you get? Dozens of comments for the FCC to sift through as it decides where to go with all of this. The first round of comments came due April 29, and the next round is due May 29.
The FCC’s C-band conundrum
Is it possible the FCC could come up with a spectrum solution that satisfies everyone, to some degree or another? That’s a tall order, especially where Musk is involved. While Carr has been a big advocate for more wireless spectrum, and he’s friends with former FCC chair and current CTIA President and CEO Ajit Pai, he’s also buds with Musk.
Blair Levin, policy analyst at New Street Research and a former FCC chief of staff, said the natural instinct of the FCC is to try to come up with a solution that “optimizes the upside for all while minimizing the downside for all,” while servicing the priority at the time – which in this case is wireless and auction revenues.
But because Musk has an outsized influence at this point in time, the natural instinct is not as good a predictor as in the past. Bottom line: Levin’s not predicting the ultimate outcome, other than to say the wireless contingent will get at least 100 MHz of the upper C-band.
That’s how much Intelsat and SES estimate could be freed up with their merger and advancements in technology, noted Michael Calabrese, a spectrum expert and director at think tank New America’s Open Technology Institute.
His organization agrees that clearing part of the upper C-band for auction for mobile carriers is a logical next step. But while they’re at it, it would be a good idea for the FCC to increase the amount of spectrum for mobile satellite services, he said. On that point, his group agrees with SpaceX.
Calls for more D2D spectrum
Calabrese said mobile satellite spectrum is extremely limited right now. Apple is using Globalstar’s spectrum for its SOS and text services, but AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are all using their terrestrial-based spectrum for separate D2D services that are in the works – as opposed to spectrum that’s set aside specifically for mobile satellite services.
“What we'd like to see is more is more spectrum for the direct to device [market], which could be both a complement and potentially a competitor with mobile carriers,” he told Fierce.
That’s something that companies like Skylo can get behind. Skylo provides a non-terrestrial network (NTN) D2D service that allows cellular modems and devices to connect directly over existing satellites. Verizon offers Skylo on select devices, and it’s on Google Pixel 9 smartphones, among others.
Skylo suggests the current MSS spectrum isn’t sufficient to sustain the skyrocketing interest in D2D services.
“As the market progresses to streaming data, images, OTT and native voice applications and as there is further exponential take-up and use of NTN D2D, there needs to be additional spectrum that the services can leverage,” Skylo told the FCC in an April 29 filing. “The commission has already recognized the dearth of MSS spectrum for D2D services by implementing its supplemental coverage from space (SCS) framework but, while profoundly innovative, SCS is not a panacea to what promises to be a long-term challenge.”
In launching the upper C-band NOI, Carr acknowledged how the FCC successfully repurposed and launched 280 MHz of the lower portion of the C-band for 5G and said he recognizes the opportunities presented in the upper C-band, saying “nothing is off the table.”
And with that, we’d close by saying there’s more drama to come with this show. Keep the popcorn popping.