Satellite Industry Pushing for Aggregate 5G Interference Protections

Any sharing of the 28 GHz band between satellite and 5G uses needs to include FCC rules protecting satellites from aggregate interference from terrestrial transmitters, several satellite industry representatives told FCC officials in a meeting Monday, according to an ex parte filing Tuesday in docket 14-177. According to a presentation from the filing, "relatively limited numbers" of mobile terrestrial upper microwave flexible use (UMFU) deployments at FCC-proposed power levels "could severely disrupt satellites." The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) said it was working with terrestrial providers on technical parameters to understand how to mitigate that interference. The satellite industry representatives also told FCC officials, including International Bureau Satellite Division Chief Jose Albuquerque, that UMFU/fixed satellite service earth stations need co-primary status in the 37-39 GHz bands, while earth stations should be individually authorized in the 28 GHz band. The FCC also should tackle aggregate interference to satellite systems in its technical rules. The meeting included industry representatives from AT&T Entertainment Group, Boeing, EchoStar, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Iridium, Kymeta, Lockheed Martin, OneWeb, O3b, SIA, SES and ViaSat.