TrendsTrends InIn UnlicensedUnlicensed SpreadSpread SpectrumSpectrum DevicesDevices Presentation at FCC Commission Meeting May 10, 2001 Office of Engineering and Technology Federal Communications Commission BirthBirth ofof AnAn IndustryIndustry ! SpreadSpread spectrumspectrum technologytechnology waswas originallyoriginally developeddeveloped forfor militarymilitary applicationsapplications ! FCCFCC firstfirst establishedestablished provisionsprovisions forfor PartPart 1515 unlicensedunlicensed spreadspread spectrumspectrum devicesdevices inin 19851985 ! LittleLittle activityactivity inin firstfirst fewfew yearsyears ! ThenThen itit startedstarted toto grow!grow! Part 15 Spread Spectrum Authorizations (1990 - 2000) 350 300 250 200 # DSS apps 150 100 Number of Authorizations 50 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Calendar Year RegulatoryRegulatory PrinciplesPrinciples ! MinimalMinimal rulesrules toto controlcontrol interferenceinterference ! EncourageEncourage innovationinnovation throughthrough flexibilityflexibility ! AdjustAdjust thethe rulesrules periodicallyperiodically inin responseresponse toto technologytechnology advancesadvances && otherother developmentsdevelopments ! BroadBroad rulesrules provideprovide aa frameworkframework forfor thethe privateprivate sectorsector toto developdevelop detaileddetailed standardsstandards BluetoothBluetooth ! DevelopedDeveloped byby industryindustry standardsstandards groupgroup -- -- supportedsupported byby moremore thanthan 20002000 companiescompanies ! KeyKey features:features: – Frequency hopping spread spectrum – Operates in the 2.4 GHz band – Low power (1 mW), short-range (10 m) – Designed for peer-to peer operation – Can be Implemented on a low-cost “chip” – Bandwidth: 1 MHz; data rates of 720 Kb/s BluetoothBluetooth ApplicationsApplications Three-in-one phone: Internet Bridge & cellular, cordless,walkie-talkie Wireless Personal Area Networking Interactive Conferencing Wireless Headsets Automatic Device Synchronizer IEEEIEEE 802.11b802.11b ! DevelopedDeveloped byby industryindustry standardsstandards groupgroup -- -- widespreadwidespread supportsupport && explosiveexplosive growthgrowth ! AlsoAlso knownknown asas “Wi-Fi”“Wi-Fi” ! KeyKey features:features: – Direct sequence spread spectrum – Operates in the 2.4 GHz band – Low power < 100 mW; range < 100 m – Designed for network operations – Bandwidth: 22 MHz; data rates up to 11 Mb/s IEEEIEEE 802.11b802.11b ApplicationsApplications Wireless Access Wireless Bridge to Points Ethernet Backbone Access Points at Community Networks Public Gathering Places HomeHome RFRF ! DevelopedDeveloped byby HomeRFHomeRF WorkingWorking GroupGroup ! RequiredRequired FCCFCC rulerule changeschanges ! KeyKey features:features: – Frequency hopping spread spectrum – Operates in the 2.4 GHz band – Low power (125 mW), short-range (50 m) – Designed primarily for home applications – Bandwidth: 5 MHz; data rates up to 10 Mb/s HomeHome RFRF ApplicationsApplications Internet Access And Printer Cordless Data and Voice Sharing Around the Home Listen to MP3 Music Share Files Without Wires OtherOther ActivitiesActivities ! IEEEIEEE 802.11g:802.11g: 2.42.4 GHz;GHz; upup toto 2222 Mb/sMb/s ! IEEEIEEE 802.11a:802.11a: 5.75.7 GHz;GHz; upup toto 5454 Mb/sMb/s ! IntroductionIntroduction ofof newnew alternativealternative digitaldigital technologies:technologies: OFDMOFDM ! GrowingGrowing interestinterest inin 5.85.8 GHzGHz Unlicensed-Unlicensed- NationalNational InformationInformation InfrastructureInfrastructure DevicesDevices ConclusionConclusion ! SpreadSpread spectrumspectrum andand otherother unlicensedunlicensed technologiestechnologies areare evolvingevolving atat aa rapidrapid pacepace ! BenefitsBenefits businessesbusinesses andand consumersconsumers ! RulesRules requirerequire periodicperiodic reviewreview toto eliminateeliminate impedimentsimpediments toto newnew technologytechnology ! NoticeNotice ofof ProposedProposed RuleRule MakingMaking wewe areare presentingpresenting advancesadvances thisthis objectiveobjective.