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Allocations

U.S. Non-Federal-Government Allocations

30 - 31 GHz
Standard frequency and time signal-satellite (space-to-Earth)

U.S. Federal Government Allocations

30 - 31 GHz
FIXED-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)
MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)
Standard frequency and time signal-satellite (space-to-Earth)

G117

ITU Region 1 Allocations

30 - 31 GHz
FIXED-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space) 5.338A
MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)
Standard frequency and time signal-satellite (space-to-Earth)

5.542

ITU Region 2 Allocations

30 - 31 GHz
FIXED-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space) 5.338A
MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)
Standard frequency and time signal-satellite (space-to-Earth)

5.542

ITU Region 3 Allocations

30 - 31 GHz
FIXED-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space) 5.338A
MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)
Standard frequency and time signal-satellite (space-to-Earth)

5.542

SpectrumWiki

Band Uses (30 - 31 GHz)

WRC-23 Agenda Item 1.16, Non-GSO FSS earth stations in motion

ViaSat-1 Ka-band Satellite

Hughes Network Systems EchoStar XVII (Jupiter-1)

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)

Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS)

Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) System

Airport Body Scanners

High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)

Footnotes

5.338A In the frequency bands 1 350-1 400 MHz, 1 427-1 452 MHz, 22.55-23.55 GHz, 24.25-27.5 GHz, 30-31.3 GHz, 49.7 50.2 GHz, 50.4-50.9 GHz, 51.4-52.4 GHz, 52.4-52.6 GHz, 81-86 GHz and 92-94 GHz, Resolution 750 (Rev.WRC 19) applies. (WRC 19)

5.542 Additional allocation: in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, China, Congo (Rep. of the), Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Sri Lanka and Chad, the band 29.5 31 GHz is also allocated to the fixed and mobile services on a secondary basis. The power limits specified in Nos. 21.3 and 21.5 shall apply. (WRC 12)

G117 In the bands 7.25-7.75 GHz, 7.9-8.4 GHz, 17.375-17.475 GHz, 17.6-21.2 GHz, 30-31 GHz, 33-36 GHz, 39.5-41 GHz, 43.5-45.5 GHz and 50.4-51.4 GHz, the Federal fixed-satellite and mobile-satellite services are limited to military systems.

SpectrumWiki

Band Uses (30 - 31 GHz)

WRC-23 Agenda Item 1.16, Non-GSO FSS earth stations in motion

"to study and develop technical, operational and regulatory measures, as appropriate, to facilitate the use of the frequency bands 17.7-18.6 GHz and 18.8-19.3 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 27.5-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30 GHz (Earth-to-space) by non-GSO FSS earth stations in motion, while ensuring due protection of existing services in those frequency bands, in accordance with Resolution 173 (WRC-19);"

Frequency Bands
Band	Use	Service	Table
17.7 - 18.6 GHz	Study for use by non-GSO earth stations in motion (S2E)	Fixed-satellite	-
18.8 - 19.3 GHz	Study for use by non-GSO earth stations in motion (S2E)	Fixed-satellite	-
19.7 - 20.2 GHz	Study for use by non-GSO earth stations in motion (S2E)	Fixed-satellite	-
27.5 - 29.1 GHz	Study for use by non-GSO earth stations in motion (E2S)	Fixed-satellite	-
29.5 - 30 GHz	Study for use by non-GSO earth stations in motion (E2S)	Fixed-satellite	-

External Links:

WRC-23 Agenda

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ViaSat-1 Ka-band Satellite

ViaSat uses this spectrum for its Ka-band direct-to-consumer broadband Internet service, under the trade name "exede." The ViaSat-1 satellite was launched from Baikonur on October 19th, 2011, and entered commercial service on January 16th, 2012.

The satellite downlinks and uplinks use both right- and left-hand circular polarizations from a geostationary orbit at 115.1 deg west longitude.

ViaSat-1 has 72 user beams, of which 63 serve the U.S. Nine beams serve Canada.

User terminals utilize a dish of 0.695 m (about 27") maximum diameter, and will uplink using carriers between 625 kHz and 10 MHz wide using max EIRP between 47.2-50.3 dBW. The antennas have transmit gain of about 44 dBi, and receive gain of about 40 dBi. ViaSat is authorized for up to 250,000 such terminals in the continental U.S., operating under the callsign E120026.

The satellite downlink bandwidth is between 52-416 MHz.

As of March 2013, ViaSat claimed 512,000 customers. They have also announced plans for the ViaSat-2 satellite, to be launched in mid-2016, which will have 2.5 times the capacity of ViaSat-1, and will have a single beam that covers the continental U.S., Mexico, most of Canada, portions of Central America and the Caribbean, and the North Atlantic over to the western edge of Europe.

Frequency Bands
Band	Use	Service	Table
18.3 - 18.8 GHz	ViaSat-1 downlink	Fixed-satellite	N
18.8 - 19.3 GHz	ViaSat-1 downlink	Fixed-satellite	N
19.7 - 20.2 GHz	ViaSat-1 downlink	Fixed-satellite	N
28.1 - 28.6 GHz	ViaSat-1 uplink	Fixed-satellite	N
28.6 - 29.1 GHz	ViaSat-1 uplink	Fixed-satellite	N
29.5 - 30 GHz	ViaSat-1 uplink	Fixed-satellite	N

External Links:

Beam coverage and other information for ViaSat-1 (satbeams.com)

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Hughes Network Systems EchoStar XVII (Jupiter-1)

Hughes is authorized to construct, launch, and operate the EchoStar XVII (aka Jupiter-1) Ka-band GSO satellite at 107.1 deg west longitude, under FCC call sign S2753.

Jupiter-1 will be used to provide new high-speed satellite-based Internet service, which improves over slower Ku-band satellite Internet services. In the U.S., Hughes' Jupiter service will compete with Viasat's Exede service, also operating in the Ka band.

Hughes was granted a waiver to allow GSO FSS operations in the 18.8-19.3 GHz band (space-to-Earth) on a non-conforming basis. It must not interfere with non-GSO non-federal FSS or federal GSO and non-GSO operations in this band.

Hughes' authorization was granted by the FCC on June 12, 2012.

Frequency Bands
Band	Use	Service	Table
18.3 - 18.8 GHz	EchoStar XVII FSS (space-to-Earth)	Fixed-satellite	N
18.8 - 19.3 GHz	EchoStar XVII FSS (space-to-Earth) (non-interference basis)	Fixed-satellite	N
19.7 - 20.2 GHz	EchoStar XVII FSS (space-to-Earth)	Fixed-satellite	N
28.35 - 28.6 GHz	EchoStar XVII FSS (Earth-to-space)	Fixed-satellite	N
28.6 - 29.1 GHz	EchoStar XVII FSS (Earth-to-space) (secondary basis)	Fixed-satellite	N
29.25 - 29.5 GHz	EchoStar XVII FSS (Earth-to-space)	Fixed-satellite	N
29.5 - 30 GHz	EchoStar XVII FSS (Earth-to-space)	Fixed-satellite	N

External Links:

Hughes EchoStar XVII FCC Grant

Hughes EchoStar XVII License Application

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Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)

According to the U.S. Navy:

Mobile User Object System (MUOS) is a narrowband Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) system that supports a worldwide, multi-Service population of mobile and fixed-site terminal users in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, providing increased communications capabilities to smaller terminals while still supporting interoperability to legacy terminals.

MUOS adapts a commercial third generation Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) cellular phone network architecture and combines it with geosynchronous satellites (in place of cell towers) to provide a new and more capable UHF MILSATCOM system. The constellation of four operational satellites and ground network control will provide greater than 10 times the system capacity of the current UHF Follow-On (UFO) constellation.

The first MUOS satellite was launched February 24th, 2012, and began operations in August 2012. The MUOS constellation will eventually be comprised of four GSO satellites and one in-orbit spare. The operational satellites will be located at 177 deg W (Pacific), 100 deg W (CONUS), 15.5 deg W (Atlantic), and 75 deg E (Indian). The spare satellite will be parked at 72 deg E.

The satellites transmit 9.8 W of power into a 14 m dish. The service links are comprised of four 5 MHz-wide SA-WCDMA channels occupying the 20 MHz wide UHF uplink and downlink bands.

Frequency Bands
Band	Use	Service	Table
300 - 320 MHz	MUOS service uplink	Mobile-satellite	F
360 - 380 MHz	MUOS service downlink	Mobile-satellite	F
20.2 - 21.2 GHz	MUOS feeder downlink	Fixed-satellite	F
30 - 31 GHz	MUOS feeder uplink	Fixed-satellite	F

External Links:

"The Mobile User Objective System" (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Technical Digest)

MUOS (Wikipedia)

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Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS)

According to the FCC (FCC 15-38):

"In 1997, the Commission developed a band plan making 1,300 megahertz of LMDS spectrum in each basic trading area (BTA) across the United States. Specifically, the Commission allocated two LMDS licenses per BTA -- an "A Block" and a "B Block" in each. The A Block license is comprised of 1,150 megahertz of total bandwidth, and the B Block is comprised of 150 megahertz of total bandwidth...Of the 986 designated license areas (492 BTAs times two licenses per BTA), 416 areas have active licenses, which cover about 75 percent of the U.S. population."

LMDS was originally envisioned as a fixed broadband point-to-multipoint microwave service. LMDS spectrum was auctioned in 1998 and 1999 for a total of approximately $623 million.

In FCC 15-38,the FCC proposed to open the 27.5-28.35 GHz LMDS spectrum for broadband mobile communications. In 2016 the Commission converted licenses for the 27.5 – 28.35 GHz band portion of the A Block to the Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service (UMFUS), and granted mobile rights to the existing licensees.

Frequency Bands
Band	Use	Service	Table
29.1 - 29.25 GHz	LMDS A2 Band	Fixed	N
31 - 31.075 GHz	LMDS B1 Band	Fixed	N
31.075 - 31.225 GHz	LMDS A3 Band	Fixed	N
31.225 - 31.3 GHz	LMDS B2 Band	Fixed	N

External Links:

FCC 2016 Report and Order and Further NPRM

LMDS Second Report & Order and Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 97-82)

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Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) System

The Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) System provides fixed site satellite service at X-band and Ka-band from geosynchronous earth orbit in support of US military operations worldwide.

As of April 2013, four WGS satellites are in orbit, a fifth is scheduled for launch in 2013, a sixth has completed testing, and four more are being built.

Paired Frequency Bands
Paired Bands	Use	Service	Table
7250 - 7750 MHz	X-band downlink	Fixed-satellite	F
7900 - 8400 MHz	X-band uplink	Fixed-satellite	F
20.2 - 21.2 GHz	Ka-band downlink	Fixed-satellite	-
30 - 31 GHz	Ka-band uplink	Fixed-satellite	-

External Links:

WGS Article on Wikipedia

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Airport Body Scanners

Under an FCC waiver (link below) issued to SafeView, Inc., since acquired by L-3 Security & Detection Systems, full-body airport scanners can use repeated sweeps over the range 24.25-30 GHz to detect objects hidden underneath clothes. These units are referred to as millimeter wave scanners by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but don't actually operate in the millimeter wave band (30-300 GHz).

Quoting from the FCC waiver: "The SafeView SafeScout imaging device is a security portal that uses imaging technology to detect weapons or contraband carried on an individual’s person, including non-metallic objects or explosives, which might otherwise require intrusive manual searches or be missed entirely by existing metal detectors. A person to be scanned by the SafeView device steps briefly into a transparent, upright cylinder seven feet high by four feet in diameter. Two vertical antenna masts rotate around the person over a 2-second interval. Each antenna element in turn sweeps from 24.25 to 30 GHz, operating for approximately six microseconds per sweep. The device measures reflections of the radio signals from the subject and calculates an image that shows hidden objects."

Frequency Bands
Band	Use	Service	Table
24.25 - 30 GHz	Airport body scanners	-	N

External Links:

Grant of waver to SafeView, Inc,

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High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)

The ITU has identified various bands for use by High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), which are defined as "a station located on an object at an altitude of 20 to 50 km and at a specified, nominal, fixed point relative to the Earth."

One set of bands (47.2-47.5 and 47.9-48.2 GHz) is identified on a worldwide basis. The others apply regionally or in a subset of countries.

Although there was a flurry of activity related to HAPS beginning in the late 1990's, no HAPS systems were ever developed. As of 2015, there is renewed interest in HAPS for applications involving telecommunications from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

HAPS is declared as an application of the fixed service.

Paired Frequency Bands
Paired Bands	Use	Service	Table
6440 - 6520 MHz	HAPS-to-ground in 5 countries (per 5.457)	Fixed	-
6560 - 6640 MHz	Ground-to-HAPS in 5 countries (per 5.457)	Fixed	-
27.9 - 28.2 GHz	HAPS-to-ground in 23 countries (per 5.537A)	Fixed	-
31 - 31.3 GHz	Ground-to-HAPS in 23 countries (per 5.543A)	Fixed	-

Frequency Bands
Band	Use	Service	Table
1885 - 1980 MHz	HAPS service links for IMT in Regions 1, 2, & 3 (per 5.388A)	Fixed	-
2010 - 2025 MHz	HAPS service links for IMT in Regions 1 & 3 (per 5.388A)	Fixed	-
2110 - 2160 MHz	HAPS service links for IMT in Regions 1, 2, & 3 (per 5.388A)	Fixed	-
2160 - 2170 MHz	HAPS service links for IMT in Region 2 (per 5.388A)	Fixed	-
47.2 - 47.5 GHz	HAPS (per 5.552A)	Fixed	-
47.9 - 48.2 GHz	HAPS (per 5.552A)	Fixed	-

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Add New...

Related Documents, Links, and Multimedia:

FCC Proceeding (1)

FCC Above 24 GHz Mobile Radio Services Notice of Inquiry

In this Notice of Inquiry, we begin a proceeding to examine the potential for the provision of mobile radio services in bands above 24 GHz. As technologies continue to evolve, innovators are working to tap into the potential of using high-band spectrum for mobile services. In particular, industry and technical groups are beginning to examine the use of higher frequencies sometimes known as millimeter wave (mmW) bands for mobile use. This examination of the possible uses of the mmW bands for mobile use takes place within the context of broader efforts to develop technical standards for so-called Fifth Generation (5G) mobile services. In view of the technological and marketplace developments outlined in this item, we seek to discern what frequency bands above 24 GHz would be most suitable for mobile services, and to begin developing a record on mobile service rules and a licensing framework for mobile services in those bands.

Frequencies/Bands

24.25 - 24.45 GHz

25.05 - 25.25 GHz

27.5 - 28.35 GHz

29.1 - 29.25 GHz

31 - 31.3 GHz

37 - 38.6 GHz

38.6 - 40 GHz

42 - 42.5 GHz

57 - 71 GHz

71 - 76 GHz

81 - 86 GHz

Document type and status: FCC proceeding (Current)
Document date or date of hyperlink query: June 23, 2015

FCC Above 24 GHz Mobile Radio Services Notice of Inquiry

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Engineering Data

	Lower Frequency	Center Frequency	Upper Frequency
Frequency	30 GHz	30.5 GHz	31 GHz
Wavelength	10.0 mm	9.8 mm	9.7 mm
Band designator(s)	EHF (millimeter wave); Ka-band (IEEE)	EHF (millimeter wave); Ka-band (IEEE)	EHF (millimeter wave); Ka-band (IEEE)
Isotropic collecting area	7.9 mm²	7.7 mm²	7.4 mm²
Free space loss (1 m)	62.0 dB	62.1 dB	62.3 dB
Free space loss (1 km)	122.0 dB	122.1 dB	122.3 dB
Free space loss (10 km)	142.0 dB	142.1 dB	142.3 dB
Free space loss (100 km)	162.0 dB	162.1 dB	162.3 dB
Free space loss (1000 km)	182.0 dB	182.1 dB	182.3 dB
Free space loss (35,786 km = GEO orbit)	213.1 dB	213.2 dB	213.4 dB
Free space loss (378,370 km = Moon)	233.6 dB	233.7 dB	233.8 dB