Verizon seeks experimental license to test 37 GHz products

Verizon Wireless is asking the Federal Communications Commission for permission to use a portion of the 37.6-40 GHz band in part of northwest Arkansas for testing purposes as it develops different healthcare-related use cases and devices with an unnamed corporate partner. The application seeks a testing schedule of 12 months. Ericsson is noted as supplying three demonstration units and “multiple mobile manufacturers” for supplying 20 demo units. The 400 MHz sought under Verizon's application is a subset of the 37.6-40 GHz band, which will be auctioned and rebanded as part of Auction 103—the auction that's currently underway. Verizon said while the spectrum is fallow right now, its request will not affect any rights with respect to licenses being auctioned. Verizon said it plans to conduct its testing solely indoors, and all transmissions will be confined within the facility at coordinates provided in the application; testing is not expected to interfere with any operations of a future licensee in the test area.