T-Mobile urges FCC to deny Aeronet petitions for 70/80 GHz bands

Citing the need for high-speed backhaul for the nation’s mobile broadband ecosystem, T-Mobile is urging the FCC to deny petitions by Aeronet Global Communications, which wants to see rule changes for the 70/80 GHz and 92-95 GHz bands to allow the use of maritime and aviation scheduled dynamic datalinks (SDDLs).“While T-Mobile acknowledges that there may be consumer desire for additional in-air and at-sea connectivity, there are competing needs that must be considered,” T-Mobile told the commission(PDF). “Should the Commission initiate a rulemaking to consider the additional uses of the 70/80 GHz bands that Aeronet proposes, it must consider all potential uses of the band, including effective, extensive wireless backhaul and potential mobile service.”The nation’s third-largest wireless carrier noted that Aviat Networks and CBF Networks, d/b/a Fastback Networks, have submitted requests for waivers of the rules governing the 70/80 GHz bands—requests that T-Mobile has supported—to better support 5G backhaul while the FCC’s wireless backhaul proceeding moves forward. It also suggested that the 70/80 GHz bands could be allocated for licensed mobile use in the future.