In this corner we have a small army of heavy hitters from the technology world, including Google, Microsoft, Comcast and several others. In the other corner we have Verizon and Qualcomm. Why are these tech titans threatening to tussle? It's over something called LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum (LTE-U).
LTE-U is a new wireless standard that Verizon wants to introduce. It uses technology developed by Qualcomm. It relies on a combination of home wireless routers and newer small cell towers in order for Verizon to offer LTE data and cell phone access over the unlicensed spectrum inherently in WiFi. It basically allows the company to "skirt" the typical need to use any spectrum across the airwaves that they are required to license for billions from the US government.
Google, Microsoft, Comcast are the three main companies lobbying the FCC to delay LTE-U’s adoption pending further tests. They point to an Oct. 23 FCC filing which they joined. It claims that LTE-U “has avoided the long-proven standards-setting process and would substantially degrade consumer Wi-Fi service across the country.” Basically, their argument is that if Verizon attempts to use LTE-U across our WiFi networks, it will disrupt those networks. This is because Big Red's central scheduling software, which tells each phone when to transmit on a particular bandwidth, will "essentially take over" and crowd out the regular WiFi signals.
The Google, Microsoft, Comcast group claims their research has shown that it will be a disaster, while Verizon and Qualcomm claim their tests indicate it is effective and foolproof. Matt Grob, Qualcomm’s chief technology officer said, “We have a capability that we’ve proven can coexist, and we’re ready to go with it. We don’t want to wait. Our partners, they don’t want to wait.”
Interestingly, Cisco Systems weighed in on the matter for both sides, indicating in a June filing to the FCC, "that regulator interference can lead to unnecessary delays but that companies developing technologies rarely prioritize peaceful coexistence with rival systems." ~ Bloomberg
For now the FCC Chairman, Tom Wheeler, seems content to let the two parties duke it out without FCC involvement. In a Nov. 19th news conference in Washington DC, Wheeler said, “Folks, you’ve got to come together and resolve this in a broad-based standard."
For more info on this controversial topic, here's the Bloomberg article: Bloomberg