LTE has an unlicensed version called LTE-U that uses the 5
GHz U-NII-1 and U-NII-3 bands used Wi-Fi.
The FCC has authorized the first of the LTE-U devices https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/blog/2017/02/22/oet-authorizes-first-lte-u-devices. What
are the implications of this standard? Will
Wi-Fi start having problems on the patio of your favorite coffee shop forcing
you to go inside to get a reliable signal? There
is a coexistence standard http://www.lteuforum.org/uploads/3/5/6/8/3568127/lte-u_coexistence_mechansim_qualcomm_may_28_2015.pdf
but of course, there is the standard and the actual performance as implemented
by device drivers.
By the way it appears that Wi-Fi vendors such as Aruba,
Broadcom, Cisco, Ruckus have been involved http://www.lteuforum.org/uploads/3/5/6/8/3568127/lte-u_introduction_may_28_2015.pdf
but I do not know how much of a conclusion to draw from that. There
has been testing against 802.11n http://blogs.cisco.com/sp/cisco-wifi-wi-fi-service-provider-lte-u-by-any-other-name-is-licensed-assisted
I have not yet found a reference for testing against 802.11ac that has useful information. I hope someone can give a better more recent
reference that is more reassuring.
An Aruba networks document http://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/wp/WP_WiFiFirst.pdf also gives me pause, “Because it is a duty-cycle based solution, an LTE-U base
station effectively takes control over its channel by force under control of a
licensed operator, leaving it up to Wi-Fi to sense when the duty cycle is off.”
I welcome your comments.
