Thread Links Date Links
Thread Prev Thread Next Thread Index Date Prev Date Next Date Index

stds-802-16-tg4: draft letter to ETSI BRAN



In Session #15, we approved a letter to ETSI BRAN, subject to my 
editorial revisions. The main editorial issue had to do with issues 
of license-exempt BWA. This was based on draft text approved by TG4.

I offered to post my draft for comment and allow people a few days to 
see if this is agreeable.

The draft is below. Let me know what you think by September 27.

Regards,

Roger

------------------------

Dear Jamshid:

In our Session #15 of 10-14 September, IEEE 802.16 read your 
announcement postponing the following week's scheduled BRAN meeting 
until 23-26 October. We sympathize with the difficulty of this 
decision and wish you best of luck in maintaining your progress in 
spite of the delay.

We have published an overview of our session in the Session #15 
Report. I'd like to highlight the following:

* The base IEEE 802.16 draft (including the base 802.16 MAC and the 
10-66 GHz PHY) was given initial approval in IEEE Sponsor Ballot and 
is being finalized through comment resolution. The document remains 
on track for completion in late October. The draft (P802.16/D4-2001) 
was published by IEEE and is now available for sale in the catalog.
* Our 802.16a and 802.16b projects (covering 2-11 GHz licensed and 
5-6 license-exempt, respectively) completed comment resolution and 
finalized important technical work. This led to a joint working 
document that, for the first time, was elevated to Working Group 
status. A Working Group Review of the document will run through 
Session #16 in November.
* Our 802.16.2a project held its first meeting to develop an 
amendment to the recently-published IEEE Std 802.16.2 ("Coexistence 
of Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems"). The amendment will 
extend coverage to the 2-11 GHz licensed bands and expand the 
recommendations regarding point-to-point systems.

In addition, we note the two following specific issues:

* We understand that Marianna Goldhammer, IEEE 802.16's Liaison to 
the HIPERMAN effort, has forwarded to BRAN the two documents 
"HIPERMAN DLC - Base line proposal: IEEE 802.16 MAC" and "HIPERMAN 
PHY - Base line proposal: IEEE 802.16a PHY." We endorse these 
submissions. However, we note that the references therein to our 
current 2-11 GHz Working Document (IEEE 802.16ab-01/01r1) need to be 
updated to the revised version  (IEEE 802.16ab-01/01r2).

* We continue to be interested in adding an addition to Annex 1 to 
the ETSI/IEEE-SA agreement to cover 802.16/BRAN cooperation. We are 
awaiting word from you on the approval of the new BRAN Terms of 
Reference so that we may proceed.

We would also like to follow up on your 29 June letter 
(BRAN24d129/IEEE 802.16l-01/15) to IEEE 802 and 802's 11 July reply 
(IEEE 802.161-01/18r1). Your letter reported "a decision within ETSI 
EP-BRAN not to develop any FWA standards" for the bands 5150-5350 MHz 
and 5470-5725 MHz. You also encouraged a "unified position between 
the worldwide standards bodies" on this issue. IEEE 802 supported a 
unified position in these bands, noting, however, that "IEEE 802 
reaffirms its support for fixed wireless access application 
development in the 5.8 GHz band based on the applicable IEEE 802.16 
standards now under development."

At this point, we would like to request BRAN's interest in a unified 
position on license-exempt fixed wireless access in the 5.8 GHz band 
(more specifically, Band C, covering 5725-5875 MHz). As you know, 
IEEE 802.16 is developing fixed wireless access (FWA) specifications 
for both licensed and license-exempt bands. The license-exempt 
situation is certainly distinct, but we believe that it has much in 
common with licensed bands. This is why we are developing both the 
802.16a (licensed) and 802.16b (license-exempt) projects in a 
simultaneous effort.

We are aware that several European regulatory administrations are 
considering opening the 5 GHz Band C for license-exempt FWA. For 
example, we understand that the UK's RA, after receiving a 5 GHz 
Advisory Group recommendation to study FWA in this band using 2-4 W 
EIRP, is actively considering opening this band for license-exempt 
FWA.

We believe that our IEEE 802.16b (WirelessHUMAN) project is 
well-suited to applications in Band C. Noting that BRAN's HIPERMAN 
project is already actively considering the IEEE 802.16a standard, 
IEEE 802.16 would gladly participate with HIPERMAN in examining the 
suitability of license-exempt FWA operation in Band C. To initiate 
this effort, we have already started a comprehensive sharing study 
with regards to this band. This is included in the current working 
document (IEEE 802.16ab-01/01r2).

We are very interested to better understand BRAN's position on this 
issue and are hopeful of a unified position.

As usual, we welcome your members to participate in our process in 
any way. Please let me know if there is anything we can do to assist 
in this process.

Best regards,

...