Iridium Tells FCC of Interference Concerns on Sharing Spectrum for 5G

Iridium told front office and other FCC International Bureau officials of interference concerns if the satellite company's "unique" low-earth, nongeostationary orbit network shares spectrum with what it called "ubiquitously deployed terrestrial services." Because of Iridium's Next network's uses, which include defense and public safety, "degradations in service caused by terrestrial interference could produce unusually catastrophic results," the company said in a filing Wednesday in docket 14-177. Satellite companies have been telling the commission of interference concerns as the agency's spectrum frontiers proceeding looks at using the 28 GHz band for sharing (see 1605130037), and Iridium said Next uses a higher non-adjacent frequency, in the 29 GHz band. Company representatives told International Bureau Chief Engineer Robert Nelson, Satellite Division Chief Jose Albuquerque and another bureau official that Iridium backs the FCC "determination that the bandwidth available in the 29.1-29.25 GHz band simply does not meet the requirements for terrestrial 5G networks." The agency should "continue to focus on more viable spectrum for flexible use services," Iridium said. Carrier interests including Verizon have said they back commission efforts to find a way for mobile and satellite to coexist in the 28 GHz band.