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AWS-1 or UMTS band IV, is a wireless telecommunications spectrum band used for mobile voice and data services, video, and messaging. AWS-1 is used in the United States and Canada. It replaces the spectrum formerly allocated to Multipoint Multichannel Distribution Service (MMDS), sometimes referred to as Wireless Cable.
The AWS band uses microwave frequencies in two segments: from 1710 to 1755 MHz for uplink, and from 2110 to 2155 MHz for downlink.[1] The service is intended to be used by mobile devices such as wireless phones for mobile data, video, and messaging services.
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[edit] Canada
In Canada, Industry Canada held the auction for AWS spectrum in 2008.[2] Wind Mobile has licensed AWS spectrum in every province aside from Quebec, and began offering voice and data services on December 16, 2009. Mobilicity also uses the AWS spectrum and began offering services in May 2010. Quebecor licensed AWS spectrum throughout the province of Quebec and began offering service with its Videotron brand on September 9, 2010[3].
Shaw Communications licensed AWS spectrum in western Canada and northern Ontario, but has not yet launched its wireless services as of June 2011.[4] Halifax-based EastLink obtained licenses in eastern Canada,[5] and is currently building up infrastructure to launch mobile phone and data services in Nova Scotia and PEI in 2012[6][7].
[edit] United States
In the USA, the service is administered by the Federal Communications Commission. The licenses were broken up into 6 blocks (A-F). Block A consisted of 734 Cellular Market Areas (CMA). Blocks B and C were each divided into 176 Economic Areas (EA), sometimes referred to as BEA by the FCC. Blocks D, E, and F were each broken up into 12 Regional Economic Area Groupings (REAG), sometimes referred to as REA by the FCC. [8] [9]
Bidding for this new spectrum started on August 9, 2006 and the majority of the frequency blocks were sold to T-Mobile USA to deploy their 3G wireless network in the United States. This move effectively kills the former MMDS and/or Wireless Cable service in the United States. Other networks that use the AWS band for services in the United States are i wireless' UMTS 3g network,[10] as well as Cricket's and MetroPCS' CDMA networks.
[edit] Operators
The following mobile network operators are known to use AWS. Indicated in the list are the launch date and city.
[edit] Canada
- Wind Mobile — December 16, 2009 in Toronto.
- Mobilicity — May 15, 2010 in Toronto.
- Videotron — September 9, 2010 in Montreal and Québec City.
[edit] United States
- T-Mobile USA — May 1, 2008 in New York City.
- Cincinnati Bell
[edit] List of AWS devices
See List of AWS devices.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.rfsworld.com/stayconnected/index.php?p=657&l=1&listName=stayconnected_en_articles&indexVal=651
- ^ Industry Canada - Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Auction of Spectrum Licences for Advanced Wireless Services and Other Spectrum in the 2 GHz Range
- ^ Media Advisory - Quebecor Media and Videotron invite you to the dawn of a new era
- ^ Shaw Re-thinking Wireless Strategy
- ^ EastLink Planning To Go Wireless After Success In Spectrum Auction
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ "i Wireless rolls out 3g". http://www.iwireless.com/promoform.asp?promo=3G. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
[edit] External links
- FCC: Advanced Wireless Services
- PhoneScoop's Visual Guide to AWS
- Wind Mobile FAQ on phone compatibility http://www.windmobile.ca/support/faq/phones-wind/#question-5
- T-Mobile cell phones comparison
- Videotron Mobile Handsets [5]
- GSM Arena: AWS equipment list [6]
