Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), today announced that it has been granted an experimental license from the FCC to test 4.9 GHz for fixed and mobile public service networking.
The experimental license allows the company to conduct multi-city trials of new low cost solutions for public-sector metropolitan area networks (MANs) using technologies in the new, exclusive-use 4.9 GHz public safety band.
This band is of great interest to big brother agencies for digitized surveillance and incident-scene video, as well as hazard-sensor telemetry, traffic controller and emergency call boxes. Already, gunshot-detection microphones are being installed in 80 locations around Chicago. Mounted on telephone poles, they listen for the distinctive sound of a gunshot. A video camera in the device keeps an eye on the scene.
By adopting the 4.9 GHz band, along with WiFi/WiMax standards, the public sector stands to benefit from low cost outdoor-rated infrastructure equipment adapted for the 4.9GHz band while still preserving the benefits of standards- based air protocols and high volume chipsets, says SAIC.
Reduced telecommunications costs to cities is one benefit. Sharing public “city cloud” infrastructure with public service (4.9GHz) and highway-oriented Intelligent Transportation (5.9GHz) networks allows those agencies to cut their cellular bill, providing faster, better, and cheaper services. It also makes feasible the blanketing of cities with multi-megabit service with plenty of capacity reserves for growth in a secure, licensed band.
The FCC revised technical specifications in the 4.9 GHz band allowing manufacturers to adapt technologies that are being used in adjacent spectrum bands, such as the 5.4 GHz Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) unlicensed band and the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) band (at 5.9 GHz).
Specifically, the Commission adopted two emission masks limiting interference potential for the band, one for low-power and one for high-power operations. These changes will allow public safety licensees to leverage commercial off-the-shelf technologies available for the U-NII and ITS frequency bands.
The Commission envisioned that, by leveraging technology already developed for adjacent bands, public safety licensees could use a single, low-cost device to access the 4.9 GHz band, the U-NII band, and the ITS band, allowing them to enjoy savings that are typically limited to the high-volume commercial market.
DailyWireless has more on the 4.9 GHz band, Public Service Roaming and Speed Violation Cameras.
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