Verizon plots 28 GHz 5G tests

Ericsson, Intel, Samsung, Qualcomm and Nokia are in the tent, radiating out

Verizon is moving ahead with its mm-wave wireless plans, filling applications for 28 Ghz-band experimental licenses in the US.

The company has requested a six-month license to test equipment from Ericsson, Intel, Samsung and Qualcomm.

Most of its interest seems to be in the propagation characteristics of 5G kit in the band, since the filing says “The devices to be tested will employ directional, beamforming antennas, and their orientation in the horizontal and vertical planes will vary”.

It's asked that the license apply to office locations in Eueless, Texas, and South Plainfield, New Jersey. The testing will be within one kilometre of each location, and Verizon will coordinate with satellite earth stations “within a 25-mile radius”, as well as with existing fixed microwave users in the 27.5 – 28.5 GHz.

Samsung was already listed for Verizon tests in Euless, and Nokia is also working in the area. A spokesperson for the company told FierceWireless it's also working with Verizon in the area.

“The proposed STA operations will advance an understanding of the characteristics of millimeter wave spectrum (specifically in the 28 GHz band), channel bandwidths, and uplink/downlink ratios for residential and commercial deployments,” the filing (PDF) says.

The United States government is keen on the 28 GHz band for 5G applications, and is pressing ahead with using that band in spite of a decision at last year's World radiocommunication conferences (WRC) leaving that band out of International Telecommunications Union considerations, for now.

Detailed frequency and location information is given in a separate filing, here. ®