Apple Granted License to Test Next-Generation 5G Wireless Technology

[MacRumors]

The FCC has granted Apple a license to test next-generation 5G wireless technologies, as brought to our attention by DSLReports.

In May, Apple submitted an application for an experimental license to test wireless technology on millimeter wave spectrum bands. Millimeter wave bands provide higher bandwidth and throughput up to 10Gb/s, but they are limited by line of sight issues that can cause problems in dense urban areas.

An excerpt from Apple's application with the FCC:

Apple Inc. seeks to assess cellular link performance in direct path and multipath environments between base station transmitters and receivers using this spectrum. These assessments will provide engineering data relevant to the operation of devices on wireless carriers' future 5G networks.

Apple intends to transmit from two fixed points located at Apple-controlled facilities in Cupertino, California, where it is headquartered, and nearby Milpitas, according to its FCC application. Apple said it anticipates that it will safely conduct its experiments for a period not to exceed 12 months.

Apple will use the 28 and 39 GHz bands, which were among those opened up by the FCC last year for the purpose of next-generation 5G broadband.

It's not entirely clear why Apple is planning to test millimeter wave performance, but it will join the likes of Google, Facebook, and major U.S. cellular carriers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, who are testing 5G networks in preparation to deploy the next-generation technology in the coming years.

Apple could perhaps be preparing its future iPhones to take advantage of 5G technology, or the company may have some other purpose in mind. The 28GHz band in particular has been earmarked for earth-to-space transmissions, an area Apple has been exploring based on recent hires with satellite expertise.

Article Link: Apple Granted License to Test Next-Generation 5G Wireless Technology

 

[xero9]

So we should see this in the 2022 iPhone?

 

[Dilster3k]

What's this? The spectacular iPhone 8 Edition / Pro already slated as obsolete before arrival?

(I know it's ignorant, but just goes to show how quickly technology develops, hopefully the i8 has Blueooth 5 at least)

 

[Tech198]

Like Apple being an MVNO?

(wow, u guys are quick.. couldn't even get my first post in)

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Queue the articles claiming it'll be in the iPhone 8 despite the fact we're years away from seeing any of the cellular providers roll it out.

 

[Juicy Box]

I opened up the MR front page and saw the antenna signal level icon and got excited. I thought the rumors were wrong and Apple was testing a new standard for AirPort.....

Oh well....

 

[DisNerd]

I opened up the MR front page and saw the antenna signal level icon and got excited. I thought the rumors were wrong and Apple was testing a new standard for AirPort.....

Oh well....

I was ready to start chanting "AirPort AirPort...". Ugh.

 

[justperry]

From Wikipedia:

Compared to lower bands, radio waves in this band have high atmospheric attenuation; they are absorbed by the gases in the atmosphere. Therefore, they have a short range and can only be used for terrestrial communication over about a kilometer. Absorption by humidity in the atmosphere is significant except in desert environments, and attenuation by rain (rain fade) is a serious problem even over short distances. However the short propagation range allows smaller frequency reuse distances than lower frequencies. The short wavelength allows modest size antennas to have a small beam width, further increasing frequency reuse potential.

 

[soupcan]

Nice and all, but show me a carrier that actually provides the "theoretical" bandwidth 4G (or even 3G for that matter) promises. You can have all the jiggabytes/sec you want on paper, if it only means 30 MB/sec in the real world then what's the point.

 

[dominiongamma]

Nice and all, but show me a carrier that actually provides the "theoretical" bandwidth 4G (or even 3G for that matter) promises. You can have all the jiggabytes/sec you want on paper, if it only means 30 MB/sec in the real world then what's the point.

I get over 110 Mbps on average so faster will be even greater ;-)

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Can't imagine what I'd use this for. Perhaps when ARKit really takes off, it will be used to download very large 3D overlays in real time?

I don't need to watch 4K video on my phone or download huge files. Not seeing the current applications for 5G.

 

[Phil in ocala]

I was ready to start chanting "AirPort AirPort...". Ugh.

___________________
this is a solution to a non-existent problem...apple is famous for this....plus the stock is CRASHING today

 

[You are the One]

And no-one cares for the hazards with the constant increase in EMF's all around?

 

[zahuh]

Welcome to the new world. Samsung will have 5g next year. Apple 3 years from now. And we're all stuck cause nobody here wants to use Android. And Tim knows it. Reminds me of when SJ talked about monopolies and the sales guys took over the company and eventually drove out the product guys.

 

[BMcCoy]

And no-one cares for the hazards with the constant increase in EMF's all around?

No-one but the hypochondriac wombles who maintain their delusions..

 

[justperry]

Nice and all, but show me a carrier that actually provides the "theoretical" bandwidth 4G (or even 3G for that matter) promises. You can have all the jiggabytes/sec you want on paper, if it only means 30 MB/sec in the real world then what's the point.

I get over 110 Mbps on average so faster will be even greater ;-)

110Mb/s / 8 = 13.75 MB/s

@soupcan And then there are data caps/plans.

 

[69Mustang]

No-one but the hypochondriac wombles who maintain their delusions..

... and the FCC. It's been one of the problems Energous has been having getting their mid-range transmitter approved.

 

[Delgibbons]

Aaand Qualcomm own loads of the patents. It's going to be a big ugly mess, 5g!

http://www.telecomtv.com/articles/5...s-got-ugly-with-lte-just-wait-until-5g-13458/

GigabitLTE looks superfast enough already; on the Galaxy S8 next year via TMobile:

https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/samsung-galaxy-s8-gigabit-lte-first-to-get-rip-roaring-wireless-speeds/

 

[tito2020]

So we should see this in the 2022 iPhone?

The galaxy s8 and s9 have 5g already

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

(since it hasn't been said, yet...)

Steve would have settled for nothing less than 6G.

(OK, stop rolling your eyes, and carry on...)

 

[MacsRgr8]

Cool.

5G for Data: anytime, anyplace (no more Wifi-WLAN issues)
Wifi: local large data-transfers (file copying, 4K streaming)
Bluetooth: Authentication, voice, audio, etc.

 

[macduke]

Hopefully we can get some higher data caps and lower prices on higher tier data plans before our bandwidth empties our plans in mere minutes.

 

[tridley68]

Faster Band with doesn't do any good when the cellular companies throttle speeds.

 

[dominiongamma]

Hopefully we can get some higher data caps and lower prices on higher tier data plans before our bandwidth empties our plans in mere minutes.

Higher data caps? Most carriers do unlimited now

 

[JungeQuex]

It would be nice if Apple rolled out their own carrier.