Big telecom providers traditionally have been loathe to build their networks using unlicensed spectrum, but huge amounts of bandwidth and new transmission infrastructure could inspire new thinking on the subject.
Also, at least some well-heeled firms whose businesses build on high-quality internet access might also be interested in using 60-Ghz unlicensed spectrum to build their own access networks.
The availability of at least 7 GHz of capacity in the 60-GHz frequency range, and perhaps as much as 14 GHz, available without a license, is one attraction. New access systems designed to use that spectrum for urban internet access are the other new part of the equation.
Facebook is testing Terragraph at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park and preparing a broader trial with the city of San Jose in California. So far, the system has demonstrated 1.05 Gbps bidirectional (2.1 Gbps total throughput per distribution node) up to 250 meters away.
That implies Terragraph could support up to 8.4 Gbps of total traffic per installation point assuming four radio sectors, and could reach as high as 12.8 Gbps in the future, Facebook engineers believe.\
Terragraph is based on use of unlicensed 60 GHz spectrum. Up to 7 GHz of bandwidth is available in the 60 GHz band, and the United States is seeking to expand this to a total of 14 GHz.
Terragraph’s wireless system consists of radios that are based on the WiGig standard and are designed for consumer electronics, allowing nodes that are inexpensive relative to traditional telecom infrastructure.
The small cell nodes are placed across a city at 200 meter to 250 meter intervals.
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