MVDDS
Encyclopedia
MVDDS is a type of television and Internet
delivery technology licensed for use in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC). This was subsequently tested by The MITRE Corporation for the FCC. A report was filed in the 98-206 Docket before the FCC.
This terrestrial
based wireless
transmission method reuses Direct Broadcast Satellite
(DBS) frequencies for distribution of multichannel video and data over large distances.
The spectrum is in the 12.2 - 12.7 GHz range, offering fast downloads but requiring other frequencies for uploads. It is seen as a potential competitor to cable for delivery of triple play
or triple-threat services (voice, data, video).
s. The first was FCC auction 53 (1/14/2004 - 1/27/2004) and this auction with 14 qualified bidders lasted 49 rounds over 9 bidding days. 10 bidders won 192 licenses with Gross Bids of $136,936,200 Each allocated license is exclusive in one geographic area.
The second was FCC auction 63 (12/7/2005 - 12/7/2005) and this auction with 3 qualified bidders lasted 3 rounds over 1 bidding day. 32 bidders won the remaining 22 licenses with Gross Bids of $204,000
MVDDS spectrum (214 licenses) is held by 11 companies, but the largest chunks are owned by three, South.com (an affiliate of Dish Network
) with 37 areas, DTV Norwich (an affiliate of Cablevision) with 46 areas, and MDS Operations (an affiliate of MDS America
) with 80 areas.
There are presently other countries using MVDDS for television signal delivery, these being built by MDS America
, a US based MVDDS company:
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
delivery technology licensed for use in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC). This was subsequently tested by The MITRE Corporation for the FCC. A report was filed in the 98-206 Docket before the FCC.
This terrestrial
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
based wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
transmission method reuses Direct Broadcast Satellite
Direct broadcast satellite
Direct broadcast satellite is a term used to refer to satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception.A designation broader than DBS would be direct-to-home signals, or DTH. This has initially distinguished the transmissions directly intended for home viewers from cable television...
(DBS) frequencies for distribution of multichannel video and data over large distances.
The spectrum is in the 12.2 - 12.7 GHz range, offering fast downloads but requiring other frequencies for uploads. It is seen as a potential competitor to cable for delivery of triple play
Triple play (telecommunications)
In telecommunications, triple play service is a marketing term for the provisioning of two bandwidth-intensive services, high-speed Internet access and television, and a less bandwidth-demanding service, telephone, over a single broadband connection. Triple play focuses on a combined business...
or triple-threat services (voice, data, video).
History
The MVDDS service was created a result of a "Spectrum Grab" by the now defunct Northpoint Technology L.L.C. While Northpoint was fighting with the DBS companies, MDS America Inc provided the FCC with engineering information to assist the FCC in formulating the first US MVDDS rules. MDS America was granted permission to conduct experimental testing of their service in Clewiston Florida. This testing was completed by LCC International under the direction of Dr. Bahman Badipour (now President and CEO of Analytical Consulting Services Inc.) in July 2001 and submitted to the FCC in October of that year.FCC MVDDS auctions
MVDDS spectrum was auctioned by the FCC in two separate auctionSpectrum auction
A spectrum auction is a process whereby a government uses an auction system to sell the rights to transmit signals over specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum and to assign scarce spectrum resources. Depending on the specific auction format used, a spectrum auction can last from a single...
s. The first was FCC auction 53 (1/14/2004 - 1/27/2004) and this auction with 14 qualified bidders lasted 49 rounds over 9 bidding days. 10 bidders won 192 licenses with Gross Bids of $136,936,200 Each allocated license is exclusive in one geographic area.
The second was FCC auction 63 (12/7/2005 - 12/7/2005) and this auction with 3 qualified bidders lasted 3 rounds over 1 bidding day. 32 bidders won the remaining 22 licenses with Gross Bids of $204,000
MVDDS spectrum (214 licenses) is held by 11 companies, but the largest chunks are owned by three, South.com (an affiliate of Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
) with 37 areas, DTV Norwich (an affiliate of Cablevision) with 46 areas, and MDS Operations (an affiliate of MDS America
MDS America
MDS America, Inc is a wireless Internet and wireless cable TV technology provider based in Stuart, Florida. MDS America was the primary party responsible for the invalidation of Northpoint Technology Inc's patents having to do with terrestrial rebroadcast of satellite signals.MDS Operations, an...
) with 80 areas.
International MVDDS-like systems
Although MVDDS is a US only service, the systems listed below operate on similar frequencies to MVDDS but with differing power levels.There are presently other countries using MVDDS for television signal delivery, these being built by MDS America
MDS America
MDS America, Inc is a wireless Internet and wireless cable TV technology provider based in Stuart, Florida. MDS America was the primary party responsible for the invalidation of Northpoint Technology Inc's patents having to do with terrestrial rebroadcast of satellite signals.MDS Operations, an...
, a US based MVDDS company:
- United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
- IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...