RoW Update

Opposition mounts against TMI’s bid for terrestrial spectrum useConsiderable opposition is mounting against TMI Communications’ application to use portions of its L-band spectrum in a terrestrial "in-fill" network. Domestic wireless companies believe that giving TMI exclusive access to the spectrum would only serve to give them an unfair advantage and could potentially lead to an all out abandoning of its satellite operations.Both Telus Mobility and Rogers Wireless suggest in briefs filed with Industry Canada that using an existing wireless network is a more cost-effective approach and could save TMI considerable money in building out the terrestrial portion of the network.If Industry Canada approves TMI’s application, mobile wireless new entrant W2N wants the department to open up the licensing process to all comers.Bell Mobility, on the other hand, doesn’t see any problem with TMI’s use of its spectrum in a terrestrial network configuration as long as there are safeguards to ensure dual-mode handsets are used and that the terrestrial network would only be accessed when the satellite signal is unavailable.Initial comments were due Dec. 28, 2001 and reply comments are to be filed no later than Jan. 13, 2002. More details. More spectrum on the auction block in the near futureIndustry Canada has released an updated version of its spectrum release plan, which indicates that little spectrum will be up for competitive licensing within the next year or so. The department believes that sufficient spectrum resources exist for providing fixed wireless access below 10 GHz, and for broadband wireless in bands above 10 GHz. Therefore, Industry Canada will not be looking to license more bandwidth in these particular areas in the near future.On the 3G front, the department has indicated that it will develop its policy in parallel to activities south of the border. Industry Canada expects to be able to license up to 80 MHz of spectrum following consultations and other related activities. A specific timeframe was not provided.While the department is relatively silent on the terrestrial wireless stage, the satellite space will occupy much of its near-term activities. Several orbital slots have yet to be licensed and the department is waiting for expressions of interest for four FSS slots and three DBS positions. More details. Sierra Wireless gains regulatory approval, announces revenue dropVancouver-based Sierra Wireless has received regulatory approval from Industry Canada and the Federal Communications Commission for its GSM/GPRS wireless modem card, the AirCard 710. Receiving the approvals represents a major milestone in the company’s plan to launch the AirCard 710 into the global marketplace, Sierra’s VP of marketing, Mark McMillan, said in a statement.While product developments are progressing well, the company is taking a beating on the bottom line. It announced last week that its fourth-quarter revenue would come in about 40 per cent lower than previously anticipated. Sales will be between $8.3 million and $8.6 million, compared to $14 million and $15 million as previously forecast. More details: Sierra Wireless receives FCC and Industry Canada approvals for GPRS PC card Sierra Wireless pre-announces fourth quarter 2001 revenue results GPRS modem gains FCC approval Wi-LAN sells DTS subsidiaryA failed experiment to bridge wire-to-wireless interfaces came to a close last week, as Wi-LAN sold its controlling interest in its Digital Transmission Systems (DTS) subsidiary to a group representing DTS’ current employees. Wi-LAN bought 51 per cent of the company two years ago, but the expected benefits of the transaction apparently never really materialized. Company representatives say a lot changed from the time of the acquisition and the DTS no longer fits within Wi-LAN's corporate strategy. More details. Startup claims to bring video to wireless devicesYear-old up-startup Vixs Systems says that its new chipset and bandwidth management software can bring streaming video to handheld devices, while at the same time delivering signals to high-definition TVs and computers in other rooms of the house. The Toronto-based firm won’t publicly discuss its proprietary technology, but says it optimizes network resources as new devices are brought online and offline, while also guaranteeing playback without frame loss. The company is currently demonstrating its product over 802.11b wireless networks, but plans to have product compatible with 802.11a and 802.11g standards by the end of this year. More details. Class-action suit filed against U.S. wireless carriersTwo U.S. citizens have filed a lawsuit against virtually all of the U.S. wireless carriers, claiming that the practice of bundling the sales of mobile phones and wireless services is anti-competitive. Jayme Thomas and Lara Goldfeder are seeking class-action status, monetary damages and want the courts to force carriers to change their marketing practices.Other countries have avoided this issue by mandating that phones and services be sold separately, as is the case in Finland, for example.While analysts concede that the plaintiffs may have the law on their side theoretically, they contend that the case is weak given the current wireless environment. "The question is ‘Is bundling phones and service anticompetitive?’ You can say that it’s inefficient, stupid or even irritating. But that’s different from being anti-competitive." More details. FCC allocates additional spectrum for new wireless servicesThe Federal Communications Commission has transferred a number of small spectrum blocks in the 216-220 MHz, 1390-1395 MHz, 1427-1429 MHz, 1429-1432 MHz, 1432-1435 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz, and 2385-2390 MHz bands from U.S. government to non-government use. While the use of these bands is welcome news to wireless carriers in the U.S., they are still clamouring for access to greater amounts of contiguous spectrum for third-generation wireless services.Intelligent antenna developer ArrayComm says this is an important step forward in making available unpaired spectrum. The company also says that this spectrum could be used for its iBurst technology, which offers always-on high-speed connectivity. More details. Satellite radio, wireless companies clash over land-based repeater systemsWireless companies have complained to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that land-based repeaters used by satellite radio companies are interfering with their terrestrial services. Wireless players such as Verizon Wireless and BellSouth want the FCC to force satellite radio companies XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio to replace their towers, which they say could potentially cause damaging interference to broadband connections and to pager and cell phone users. The radio companies use the repeaters to help fill gaps in their service until mobile listeners get back in range of a satellite. More details. CRTC approves central fund administratorThe CRTC has approved an agreement that called for the appointment of Progestic International Inc. as the central fund administrator for the national contribution fund following an application by the Canadian Portable Contribution Consortium Inc. (CPCC). Progestic will hold the position from Jan. 1, 2002 until Dec. 31, 2004. More details. Maybe some should leave home without itThree Canadians were caught on tape during a hold-up when an accidental recording of a cell phone call during the robbery was turned into police. The three men were midway through a hold-up when a cell phone being carried by one of them was jostled and automatically redialed the last number called. That number was hooked up to an answering machine whose owner gave a tape of the call to police. The suspects’ identities are known to police, but charges have yet to be laid. More details.

RoW Update

News | January 7, 2002

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