Apple's comments to the FCC about 'superhigh' spectrum hint at its growing wireless ambitions
- Apple filed a comment with the FCC this month urging them to apply a light regulatory touch to unused radio frequencies.
- The bands Apple commented on are in the 95 GHz-3000 GHz, which may play a part in 5G infrastructure.
Apple has urged the Federal Communication Commission to set aside large swaths of new "superhigh" spectrum for public use instead of licensing it - the latest sign that the iPhone giant is interested in playing an important role in future wireless networks, including so-called 5G wireless.
In a filing earlier this month, Apple told regulators that leaving radio signals unlicensed in the 95 GHz - 3000 GHz range will give rise to innovative "applications that are unfeasible today."
"Apple supports the Commission's proposal for experimental licensing in the bands above 95 GHz and believes that adopting this flexible model will help to spur innovation in the band," the company said in a May 2 letter, signed by Mark Neumann, a senior engineer at Apple.
"As the band is still largely greenfield, this is a rare opportunity to allow for freedom of exploration that does not exist in other bands and advantage should be taken," Apple continued.
Apple told the FCC it favored a light regulatory touch that would leave a greater share of the spectrum unlicensed, and open for anyone to use.
The comments were in response to the FCC's request seeking comments on how to regulate the high-bandwidth wireless spectrum, often referred to as "superhigh" spectrum. Apple believes that the current approach to regulation is too far in favor of established, licensed technologies, instead of emerging uses that a company like Apple might be interested in.
What is this spectrum good for?
But that doesn't mean that there aren't many different scientists and industry researchers who are starting to come up with ideas for those frequencies.
"As Apple says in its filing no one really knows what's going to happen with that very high spectrum. But since something will someday it's time to create a mechanism to use it. Maybe not Apple's preferred unlicensed mechanism," wireless consultant Steve Crowley told Business Insider in an email. "Regulation takes time, the standardization process takes time, product development takes time. It doesn't hurt to take the first step."
The FCC took that first step earlier this year, by filing a notice inviting comment on its proposed rules, which is what Apple responded to. "Now, I realize that some are skeptical that this spectrum can be used productively," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in a statement earlier this year. "But the skeptics have been proven wrong before."
The more spectrum that remains unlicensed, the more likely it is that Apple can experiment in those radio frequencies and build them into its technology. The spectrum used by cellular networks is licensed, for example, but Wi-Fi uses unlicensed spectrum, which enabled Apple to use it in innovative ways, such as for wireless speakers and network syncing.
The FCC also makes money by auctioning licenses to specific bands of spectrum. And if FCC makes a new slice of spectrum unlicensed, that means Apple can access it for free.
The question remains what it could be used for, but one possibility is those frequencies could be used for infrastructure to enable "5G," or the next generation of cellular networks. "I'd expect first uses of bands 95 GHz and above to be used for 5G small cell backhaul - interconnecting the millimeter wave cells connecting handsets, and fixed users, below 95 GHz," Crowley said.
Currently, bands under study include the so-called W-band (92-114 GHz) and D-band (130-175 GHz), Crowley added.
Apple's interest in millimeter wave
Last month, Apple pulled a job listing off of its site for a "mmWave IC design engineer," which suggested it planned to build chips to work on 5G networks. Currently, Apple buys its modems from Qualcomm and Intel.
Apple has been testing millimeter wave technology in Cupertino, California since last May on the 28 GHz and 39 GHz, bands that are lower than the ultra-high spectrum Apple commented on.
Earlier this year, Apple applied to make both of its Cupertino, California headquarters into "innovation zones" which would enable it to run tests more easily without regulatory headaches and applications. Apple didn't respond to a request for comment.
"Apple devices access spectrum in numerous licensed and unlicensed frequency bands. For example, iPhones use spectrum ranging from 13 megahertz (contactless payments via Apple Pay) to 5 gigahertz (802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO) and support more than 18 different LTE bands," according to the Apple application, which was also signed by Neumann, the senior Apple engineer.
Experts have said that millimeter wave is only one technology that will make up the 5G standard, which is still being finalized. The big advantage to millimeter wave is that it can achieve very high data rates, with much more bandwidth than current cellular networks.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that Apple wants to own all of its core technologies- and that likely includes the modem chips that connect Apple devices to networks like those operated by Verizon and AT&T. But even if that's not part of Apple's plans, the company clearly wants to understand these extremely high frequencies well.