Verizon is asking the FCC to move on 5G.
Originally reported by RCR Wireless, Verizon met recently with the FCC and filed an ex parte with the commission detailing the specifics of the meeting.
According to the filing, CEO Lowell McAdam emphasized the importance to the U.S. economy and U.S. consumer of the
Commission “acting quickly to make the spectrum bands above 24 GHz available for mobile broadband.”
Verizon agrees with the Commission’s primary proposal to grant flexible use rights to existing terrestrial licensees in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands and to auction the FCC held licenses. On the topic of 5G, McAdam asked for the Commission to move quickly to adopt an order and to make this spectrum available for 5G deployments. McAdam reiterated Verizon’s commitment to to be the first U.S. company to roll out 5G wireless technology and described Verizon’s work with its 5G Technology Forum partners, including its plans to field test 5G in early 2016.
Verizon announced plans earlier this year to roll out field trials of its 5G wireless technology by next year.
According to a press release, Verizon said that 5G network environments, known as sandboxes, are already being created in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Francisco.
“5G is no longer a dream of the distant future,” said Roger Gurnani, executive vice president and chief information and technology architect for Verizon. “We feel a tremendous sense of urgency to push forward on 5G and mobilize the ecosystem by collaborating with industry leaders and developers to usher in a new generation of innovation.”