“Independent telecom operators need to have a cost-effective and high-performance wireless capability if they are to remain relevant to today’s consumers, who are demanding more mobile broadband connectivity and services in rural markets,” said Townes Tele-Communications, Inc. Chief Executive Officer, Larry Townes, one of the executives present for the demonstration. “I was impressed by xG’s progress, as well as the capabilities xG was able to deliver to my smartphone without using any of my cellular minutes or data allotment. My managers like that xMax will allow them to deliver new services to their customers’ existing mobile devices.”

The xMax equipment demonstrated has application across a range of wireless markets since the system is able to deliver a broadband connection using free, unlicensed spectrum. The frequencies used in the demonstration were crowded and had significant interference, however xG’s newly developed multi-antenna technology was able to deliver increased range and connection reliability even under these harsh conditions.

The press release can be viewed at this link.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

On the plus side they point out that mobile data traffic has grown 159% from 2010 to 2011. The story seems to imply that video traffic is driving this bandwidth surge. While video is a partial driver, there are more recent studies that point out that social networks, such as Facebook, are really what is driving the bandwidth usage over wireless networks. However the facts remain that data usage over mobile networks is in fact exploding.

The story starts to lose some credibility when it makes the claim that only a very small fraction of wireless spectrum is available and useful for what they call “video.” In fact, they point out that basically the 700 MHz band is the only thing that is “viable for sending video wirelessly.” Whether it be e-mails, video, VoIP or any other sort of wireless data, this just simply is not accurate.

There are many bands that are highly usable for mobile data video and other broadband type of applications. In fact, carriers already use a mix of 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1.8 GHz spectrum, and only recently have started applying the 700 MHz spectrum with their LTE systems. New bands in the 2.7 GHz range are also being utilized for 4G mobile system quite successfully.

Perhaps most alarmingly, the story tries to claim that we are running out of spectrum and that it is up to us, the consumer, to think about how we use the spectrum so that we don't end up using it all up. Not only is this impractical, it is just simply not true.

As was mentioned in our recent blog post, new technologies such as xG’s cognitive radio system offer a solution to the mobile spectrum crisis. Our approach allows carriers to pack far more data into existing spectrum as well as making more spectrum viable to use to deliver additional capacity. This newfound capacity will support the video and broadband applications that the CNN story highlights.

Our interference mitigation technology allows more users to be more closely packed together, which drastically alleviates the need for new spectrum. Our dynamic spectrum access capabilities also allow new spectrum to be brought into play. This spectrum is just as suitable, if not more suitable, for delivering wireless broadband applications as some of the spectrum currently used by commercial carriers.

In general, the commentators in this story are promoting a very traditional and somewhat dated view of spectrum as a finite resource. As new technologies come online, such as xG’s cognitive radio systems, we will continue to see how the existing wireless spectrum can hold far more capacity than what was thought possible just a few years ago. These new technologies will continue to bring out new ideas and new approaches, so that just like in the past 20 years, we will again see additional capacity being delivered using existing spectrum.

Moreover, these technologies can also provide new spectrum for use by carriers and other wireless operators. What was once considered “junk spectrum” can now be used to deliver reliable and robust communications links.

By looking at past history, and considering the new technologies that are bursting onto the wireless space, it is clear that this view of spectrum being a finite resource is just not factual. As we continue to expand the use of wireless in our society and economy, we will continue to discover ways to increase capacity, as well as find ways to make it more affordable and more economical to use in our daily lives.

Rick Rotondo
VP of Marketing
xG Technology, Inc.

IEEE DySPAN is the oldest, most prestigious and most selective conference on Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) systems. This year they are soliciting demonstrations which illustrate novel functionality related to the area of dynamic spectrum access. They reached out to xG because of the impact our development has had in the field, as well as our growing standing in the cognitive radio community.

Normally an invitation to demonstrate at DySPAN requires an extensive review process. However, they waived the requirement in the case of xG due to our stature as a key innovator in the industry.

xG Technology has long been a leader in developing wireless systems designed specifically to operate in high-interference environments. The xMax cognitive radio network was initially conceived to operate in unlicensed spectrum, where high interference has been the main obstacle in rolling out commercial-grade cellular networks.

xMax leverages proprietary technology to implement a multifaceted strategy for dealing with interference. The xMax system incorporates a specialized version of DSA that gives it unprecedented frequency agility.

To its core DSA attributes xG has also added advanced interference mitigation capabilities, using a “layered” cognitive approach. Employing sophisticated interference mitigation software, xMax radios can remain on channels with moderate to high levels of interference that would prevent other radio systems from functioning. This increases xMax’s network capacity several-fold over current radio technologies in today’s crowded radio bands.

xG had previously been confirmed as a speaker at the IEEE DySPAN event. We look forward to also participating in the demonstration part of the conference and expect to receive outstanding exposure for our technology at the venue.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

The article details how white space spectrum is fast becoming a proving ground for what could be ground-breaking devices and services. Moreover, lessons learned from employing the technologies necessary to make white space commercially viable could also drive innovation over a host of other spectrum bands in time.

The article explains that, while the idea of using TV white space spectrum is novel enough, one of the keys for successful implementation is the use of enabling technologies like cognitive radios. These allow for "the opportunistic use of spectrum" either through a combination of a spectrum database to identify which channels are available at a given location, and/or employing spectrum sensing capabilities. Cognitive radio systems, as well as other technologies being developed by xG Technology like advanced interference mitigation and MIMO antenna technology, are key components required for the deployment of cost-effective, wide-area mobile broadband networks using white spaces.

A key differentiator is that, while the spectrum databases will let devices know which channels can be used, cognitive radio technologies can take that information, enhance it with their own spectrum sensing capabilities, and determine which channels they should use to maximize throughput and minimize self-interference.

xG's Vice President of Marketing, Rick Rotondo is quoted extensively in the article. Speaking about ways of utilizing spectrum more effectively, Rotondo said,

"You actually can utilize spectrum far better and increase your network capacity far more by using all that processing capacity in your cognitive radio to do interference mitigation. Enabling devices to identify interference and then null it out allows them to continue operating on a channel full of RF pollution. Such an approach provides a solution for the spectrum 'have-nots'–the guys who don't own a lot of spectrum."

The article can be read in its entirety at this link.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

However, the article also points to an alternative view of the problem, and this is held by some prominent members of industry, including Martin Cooper, past president of Motorola and inventor of the cellphone. He states:

“Somehow in the last 100 years, every time there is a problem of getting more spectrum, there is a technology that comes along that solves that problem.”

He points to newer technologies, like improved antennas and techniques for offloading mobile traffic, as being able to multiply the number of mobile devices that carriers can serve by at least tenfold.

xG is at the forefront in developing one such technology –  cognitive radio networks. This technology has been called the next frontier in wireless communications. Cognitive radios have an unprecedented amount of built-in intelligence, allowing them to adapt their characteristics to the operating environment, thus ensuring optimized transmissions.

xG has designed its system to exploit spectrum in novel ways, and can find additional capacity where traditional cellular systems only see static. xG has also incorporated advanced interference mitigation approaches including MIMO antenna technology to further squeeze out additional usable spectrum.

Essentially any sector that has been limited by the lack of cost-effective licensed spectrum can benefit from this technology.  This includes rural cellular networks, military applications, smart grids and public utilities, public safety, and industrial and workforce communications. Incumbent mobile carriers can also benefit by using xG's cognitive technology as an offload to help alleviate the strain on its existing infrastructure.

The xG approach of using cutting-edge technology to deal with the spectrum problem is embraced by the FCC. The same New York Times article quotes FCC spokesman Neil Grace as saying that more efficient use of spectrum and new technologies (as well as adding new spectrum) are all important parts of the mix if the wireless industry is to evolve.

As the wireless industry grapples with the challenges of meeting the demand for mobile services, new technologies such as xG's cognitive radio, interference mitigation and innovative antenna configurations will play a vital role in easing the spectrum crunch.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

• xG successfully completed trials of the xMax system with the U.S. Army, which resulted in Army representatives reporting that xMax “performs as advertised” under laboratory evaluation and in field conditions. The six-month field trials included testing of the xMax cognitive cellular network in a garrison (on-base) environment at the U.S. Army’s base at Fort Bliss, Texas, United States, desert training area, as well as at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, United States, where xMax was evaluated for use as a tactical cellular system;
• Signed a teaming agreement with Force 3, Inc. (“Force 3”), a Crofton, Maryland, United States, based military and federal government integrator and solutions provider. Under the terms of the agreement, xMax cognitive radio solutions were included in the ITES-3H (Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-3 Hardware) U.S. Army contract proposal that Force 3 submitted. The ITES-3H contract is expected to be awarded in the summer of 2012. In addition to providing prospective customers with a streamlined procurement path for obtaining xG’s products, the agreement will give xG the opportunity to benefit from joint marketing activities with Force 3, as well as access to other Force 3 strategic value chain partners;
• Expanded its xMax cognitive cellular network rural deployment trial with Townes Tele-Communications, Inc. (“Townes”) in Lewisville, Arkansas, United States, as well as in one of Townes’ other rural markets in Macclenny, Florida, United States;
• Received separate orders for xMax broadband pilot networks from San Ramon, California, United States-based emergency communication and disaster response integrator and developer, PC3 Solutions, Inc. (“PC3”), and Canadian telecommunications provider, LikeTone Group, Inc. (“LikeTone Group”). Under the terms of the orders, xG will be paid upon deliveries of its broadband-enhanced xMax equipment to PC3 and Liketone Group, respectively, which is intended to take place in 2012;
• Signed memoranda of understanding with eight independent telecommunications carriers to undertake pilot network evaluations of the xMax cognitive radio system for the delivery of wireless services in their respective service territories. xG also signed a memorandum of understanding with Security Network of America, a 34-company alliance that will evaluate xMax cognitive radio technology for the delivery of advanced security and monitoring services;
• Received an expert patent valuation report prepared by AccuVal Associates, Inc., which concluded that, as of November 15, 2011, the fair market value from exploitation of xG’s patent portfolio in the United States alone was $350 million;
• Established a trading line in unrestricted shares, trading under the LSE-AIM symbol XGTU; and
• Established a depository interest facility that allows the unrestricted shares to settle electronically via the CREST system.

The complete press release can be viewed at this link.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

Interference mitigation has been identified as one of the top areas of interest for 2012 in the cognitive radio field by Wireless Innovation Forum Members. xG will be the lead presenter on the interference mitigation topic at the forum.

Interference is a growing problem for all wireless communications networks. It is of particular concern to our public safety, armed forces and homeland security agencies. Their growing reliance on broadband communications makes unintentional and intentional interference (jamming) a real threat to their missions.

xG Technology is at the forefront of using cognitive radio technology to deal with interference issues. xG’s xMax leverages proprietary technology to implement a multifaceted strategy for dealing with interference. xMax combines innovative DSA attributes with sophisticated interference mitigation capabilities. The keystone of the latter is a 2 x 4 MIMO configuration that builds upon xG’s “layered approach” and adds additional resistance to interferers.

SDR’11-WInnComm-Europe is the premier event to feature the latest in cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum access (DSA) technologies, as well as cognitive radio/software defined radio programs and requirements. The event includes daily keynote presentations from recognized leaders in advanced wireless communications and three days of technical presentations and workshops on International tactical radio, spectrum sensing and other subjects.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

The xMax cognitive radio solution offers benefits that address key concerns in the military sector, including:

- Self-frequency planning – the system comes up automatically and finds available frequencies; no manual frequency co-ordination required;
- Self-optimizing- the system uses DSA (Dynamic Spectrum Access) technology to maximize throughput and reliability, delivering a licensed spectrum experience in unlicensed spectrum;
- Leverages existing smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc. directly into the xMax mobile radio network to save costs and offer unmatched applications and functionality;
- End-to-end IP architecture – simplifies integration with LTE, P25 and other networks via industry standard interfaces and protocols; voice can be tagged and prioritized end-to-end through network for high reliability;
- Tactical and scalable deployments – rapidly deployable size and weight, proven integration with satellite and point to point backhaul radios; and
- Difficult to jam or hack – dynamic channel/band hopping makes jamming attacks and penetrations far more difficult than traditional radio systems.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

The key xG-focused takeaways from the article are that:

- unlicensed frequencies offer excellent potential for a first responder broadband network
- cognitive radio networks reduce the burden on overtaxed communications specialists, especially in the critical “golden hour” after a disaster strikes
- by supporting smartphones, laptops and other devices already used by first responders, xMax further reduces their costs and enhances functionality
- advances in cognitive networks like xMax deliver robust, reliable communications in impaired wireless environments

The readership of Government Security News is comprised of federal, state and local officials, as well as integrators, contractors and suppliers who are involved in homeland security.

Daniel Carpini
Marketing Director
xG Technology, Inc.

The theme of the conference is developing and deploying next-generation wireless C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) capabilities. This is critical for meeting the net-centric communications, command and control, situational awareness, force tracking, intelligence dissemination, and targeting challenges facing the future warfighter.

The conference will feature over 30 experts from the armed services, government and industry who are involved in identifying the requirements and developing the wireless capabilities of the future. Rick Rotondo, xG’s Vice President of Marketing, has been invited to present at the conference at a session on Tactical Cognitive Radios and Networks.