Finnish vendor Nokia has requested permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stage a trial using 3550MHz-3700MHz (3.5GHz) spectrum at the corporate headquarters of cable giant – and wireless market aspirant – Comcast. In an FCC filing uncovered by Fierce Wireless, the vendor seeks a special temporary authority (STA) covering the period from 15 September 2017 to 15 March 2018.
TeleGeography notes that a number of US players have scrambled to initiate 3.5GHz trials in recent months. In May this year US Cellular requested an STA to conduct experimental testing in parts of Maine and North Carolina, after T-Mobile US requested FCC permission for an ‘experimental licence’ that would cover three sites in Washington, near its Bellevue headquarters, in April. Previously, in April 2015 the FCC voted to add another 100MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band (3550MHz-3700MHz) to the 50MHz in that range already available for commercial use.