Apple pushes FCC to keep 'super-high' spectrum free for 5G & other future tech

Apple is pressuring the U.S. Federal Communication Commission to keep "super-high" radio frequencies — between 95 and 3,000 gigahertz — open to use for 5G cellular data and other possible purposes.

The company made the recommendation in a response filed with the FCC. It suggests the Commission operate with "the goal of encouraging a range of innovative business and engineering approaches that market forces determine best utilize these frequencies," and avoid "restrictive regulations, band plans, or predictions about future uses of the bands that could dictate outcomes and limit innovation."

Apple is particularly worried about the prospect of being limited to "a few narrow unlicensed bands" without knowing how it might want them in the future. It's also appealing to a nationalist perspective, claiming that onerous restrictions could let other countries gain an edge.

The company is already testing 5G for iPhones and other devices. Partner carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile are meanwhile planning to launch limited coverage this year.

5G is widely considered vital to future technologies. 4G is typically fast enough for music, video, gaming, and Web browsing, but things like augmented reality, virtual reality, and self-driving vehicles require minimal lag while consuming vast amounts of bandwidth.

Apple Spectrum Horizons Comments by Mike Wuerthele on Scribd

14 Comments

volcan 1799 comments · 10 Years

About 6 years ago

I had really crappy service at my home using AT&T, 1-2 bars max, couldn't even talk while inside my house, had to go outside. I decided to switch to Verizon since they assured me that their network coverage was vastly superior. Turns out it is the same crappy connection. Mind you I'm in the center of LA county, one of the largest cities in the world. I wish these providers would invest more on putting up towers. 5G will mean nothing to me if I can't get a signal.

tadd 134 comments · 16 Years

10 years from now the cell networks will be talking about frequent automatic switching between cell-sites which will include low earth orbiting satellites. bandwidth usage is going to be very big. That or we'll all be baked by microwave energy.

fh-ace 49 comments · 14 Years

volcan said:

I had really crappy service at my home using AT&T, 1-2 bars max, couldn't even talk while inside my house, had to go outside. I decided to switch to Verizon since they assured me that their network coverage was vastly superior. Turns out it is the same crappy connection. Mind you I'm in the center of LA county, one of the largest cities in the world. I wish these providers would invest more on putting up towers. 5G will mean nothing to me if I can't get a signal.

I totally agree with what you’ve said volcan. Here’s a good one for you... 4 blocks from Apples infinite loop buildings AT&T gives you 1 bar outside and no bars inside. The “heart” of the Silicon Valley and no signal. Between the phone companies lack of towers and the cities not wanting to add towers and the nimby’s “we don’t want them here”, I’m not sure that there will ever be a time when we all get good coverage.

fh-ace said:
Between the phone companies lack of towers and the cities not wanting to add towers and the nimby’s “we don’t want them here”, I’m not sure that there will ever be a time when we all get good coverage.

I don't know why the cities don't want the towers. They could make a lot of money putting them on city owned property. A friend of mine who owns some land near the I-15 in San Diego county earns around $20K a month for letting Verizon put a tower on is property. The tower is disguised as a tree so you don't even see it.

boltsfan17 2294 comments · 12 Years

volcan said:

I had really crappy service at my home using AT&T, 1-2 bars max, couldn't even talk while inside my house, had to go outside. I decided to switch to Verizon since they assured me that their network coverage was vastly superior. Turns out it is the same crappy connection. Mind you I'm in the center of LA county, one of the largest cities in the world. I wish these providers would invest more on putting up towers. 5G will mean nothing to me if I can't get a signal.

It's so bizarre having those issues in large cities. There are times when I'm on the 210 or 5 and have like 1-2 bars. It's pretty ridiculous. I'll even lose my LTE connection and it goes to 2G. That shouldn't happen in a large city.