US DTH provider Dish Network is seeking FCC approval to deploy a hybrid satellite and terrestrial mobile and fixed broadband network.
In an FCC filing dated 22 August, the group requested permission to combine spectrum from its recently acquired…
US DTH provider Dish Network is seeking FCC approval to deploy a hybrid satellite and terrestrial mobile and fixed broadband network.
In an FCC filing dated 22 August, the group requested permission to combine spectrum from its recently acquired TerreStar satellite operator subsidiary with that of fellow ATC licence holder DBSD, which it bought back in March.
This transfer would give Dish 40 MHz of 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service spectrum, which it plans to use to “provide American consumers with greater choice for mobile broadband services” through LTE-Advanced network technology, the company stated.
The group is also requesting the ability to sell devices without a satellite-capable chip, enabling it to provide terrestrial-only services. Such a waiver has already been granted by the FCC to US satellite/terrestrial venture LightSquared.
“TerreStar and Dish are committed to securing the opportunity to deploy a terrestrial broadband network and will provide substantial satellite service – however, relief from the integration requirement is an important component of Dish’s plan,” the filing continues.
In return for the waivers from the FCC, Dish pledges to make substantial terrestrial network deployment commitments, including in rural areas. The group intends to work with the FCC to draw up a “reasonable, attainable build-out schedule keyed to commercial availability of the LTE-Advanced standard”, which it expects to be by 2014.
If Dish’s waivers are approved, it would likely place even more pressure on LightSquared, which is building a wholesale network based on LTE technology. LightSquared is unable to launch commercial services until it gets approval from the FCC, which is still reviewing GPS interference test results that were submitted on 30 June.
However, unlike LightSquared, whose L-band spectrum sits close to frequencies used by the GPS industry, Dish’s S-band spectrum faces no interference concerns – a point its filing points out.
Indeed, Dish also argues that by allowing the group to combine its TerreStar and DBSD spectrum holdings, the FCC would be helping it to ward off any potential interference issues between the two.
“Use of the band also does not give rise to the GPS interference issues that have hampered the use of the L-band. Moreover, the combination of the two 2 GHz MSS spectrum assignments helps to mitigate the bandwidth constraints that have limited the utility of these bands for broadband services.”
