Tags: Spectrum, FCC Globalstar, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Publication: ComputerWorld.com
Publication Date: 01/14/2013

Image credit: Miguel Paulo Riano

Globalstar’s proposal to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to offer an extra channel of Wi-Fi has raised questions from industry groups on the possibility that the move could mean less bandwidth for the average Wi-Fi and Bluetooth user.

Globalstar proposes to open a restricted section of the Wi-Fi band for a fourth channel (Channel 14), for which the company would have control over who may use it. The plan received comments from industry groups such as the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the Wi-Fi Alliance with fears that the move would allow the company to license spectrum that is defined as unlicensed.

As Wi-Fi demand continues to grow for home, office and service-provider networks, the existing large amount of spectrum allocated to it is often overwhelmed in densely populated locations. The FCC has proposed adding 195MHz of additional spectrum to Wi-Fi in the United States by having federal agencies share the space with unlicensed uses.

The spectrum Globalstar is trying to control is at the very top of the unlicensed band, adjacent to the company’s satellite spectrum. This space is restricted from Wi-Fi use to protect that licensed band. If the FCC decided to approve the proposal and open Channel 14, consumers might be able to use Wi-Fi in more places with higher performance by just upgrading the Wi-Fi chip’s firmware. However, users without access to the special band could be affected by reduced Wi-Fi spectrum.

Additionally, Bluetooth devices operate in part of the spectrum that the company wants to allocate for the special Wi-Fi channel. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has raised concerns on whether Globalstar’s proposal would force Bluetooth devices off of those frequencies.

According to the company, the proposal gives it the ability to stop other services providers from introducing new services in the Channel 14 spectrum but it would coexist with current uses; the proposal wouldn’t affect any gear currently using that spectrum, and it wouldn’t raise costs of Wi-Fi products, Globalstar said.

The company must file formal responses to the comments by Jan. 29.

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