Dish faces challenges ramping up its LTE network
The FCC has imposed some strict requirements on Dish's rollout of its recently-granted 4G LTE network.
Dish was recently given a thumbs up by the FCC to build its own LTE network, but the company is up against some stiff obstacles along the way.
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission granted Dish's request to allow it to use 40 MHz of spectrum in the 2 GHz band to create a 4G LTE network. At the time, the FCC indicated that some restrictions would apply, though it didn't reveal the specifics... until now.
The satellite TV provider must finish 40 percent of its LTE network within the next four years, and 70 percent within seven years, as detailed by blog site Electronista.
Further, if the 40 percent goal isn't reached by the due date, the 70 percent deadline will be moved up to six years. And if Dish can't meet the 70 percent timeframe, it won't be allowed to offer its broadband services in any areas not already covered.
Dish will also have to adhere to certain power limits to avoid interference on the AWS-4 spectrum that it will use for its high-speed network. Specifically, the company must run the 2000-2005 MHz portion of the spectrum at reduced power.
A limit in power usage is a restriction that concerned Dish last month before it even received official FCC approval.
The deadline restrictions also worry some who were against the deal, according to Electronista. Certain opponents feel Dish will choose the most populated markets to ramp up its network and leave less developed areas by the wayside.
The full FCC document on Dish's restrictions is available online through Scribd.