Land Rover Explore Hands-on Review

Research Center:
Land Rover Explore

There’s a Land Rover sitting in your garage, a pair of kayaks resting up against the wall, and you’ve got this weekend’s hiking route already sorted out. If only your phone was as prepared. Modern, high-end smartphones are delicate little flowers, and won’t keep up with a seriously active lifestyle. That’s where the Land Rover Explore comes in, a phone that goes beyond those dreary rugged phones none of us want to buy, while doing the job we want them to do. The Land Rover Explore is a lifestyle phone, in that it looks decent with a desirable brand behind it.

Video review

A modular phone

The Land Rover branding is the first thing you notice about the phone, and while crucial to its appeal, it’s not what makes the device special. Built in partnership with Bullitt Group, the manufacturer responsible for Cat Phones, the Land Rover Explore employs a Motorola Moto Mods-style modular design. Using special magnets on the back, you can attach modules to the phone, enabling extra functionality. In the box is the Adventure Pack, representing what the Explore is for, and the people interested in buying it.

Sliding the Adventure Pack into place is easy and satisfying. Not only is it easy to remove by simply sliding it down from the device, but it’s also designed to break apart in the event of a fall. Primarily, it’s a battery pack with a 3,600mAh capacity.

The Land Rover Explore is super tough, with an IP68 water resistant rating, a very tough body, including an H-4 glass screen protector fitted over the Gorilla Glass 5 screen at the factory. The Adventure Pack’s battery is bigger than most expensive smartphones, but so is the built-in battery on the Explore itself — coming it at a whopping 4,000mAh. With the Adventure Pack added onto the phone, expect this device to last a really long time.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

But there’s also a special 25 x 25mm Ceramic Patch GPS antenna on the Adventure Pack that adds even more functionality to the Land Rover Explore.

Adventures with the Explore

Similar to the antennas used in standalone GPS devices, the Ceramic Patch GPS antenna is considerably more powerful than the one in your phone, pulling in specific location data in challenging environments. It doesn’t require data if you drop out of reception, and thanks to the extra battery pack, the Explore will still last a day with continuous GPS use and the screen on for 50 percent of the time. It’s linked with ViewRanger’s mapping technology — a voucher to download content comes with the phone — for incredibly detailed location data, and even uses the camera for augmented reality waypoint visualization.

A phone that goes beyond those dreary rugged phones none of us want to buy.

Currently, there is only one other module to use with the Land Rover Explore. It’s another battery pack without the GPS antenna, but with a massive 4,370mAh cell. Both this and the Adventure Pack are IP68-rated and drop proof too. There is also a thick protective case that fits the phone with the Adventure Pack added, which has a clip for either a cycle handlebar mount, or a carabiner clip.

Used on its own without the module, the Land Rover Explore still feels big and thick compared to modern high-end smartphones. Put the Adventure Pack on and it’s gigantic. It’s most certainly a phone to be stowed inside a big jacket pocket, rather than a pocket on skinny jeans.

We like the phone’s Land Rover styling references, from the grill on the front matching the new Discovery to the frame surrounding the camera lens on the back, resembling a Discovery headlight on the back; but the bezels on the phone are substantial, and the overall look is “traditional,” rather than ultra-modern. To its intended audience, this probably won’t matter.

Mid-range specs

This is a mid-range smartphone with a 5-inch touchscreen, a 1,980 x 1,020-pixel resolution, a MediaTek Helio X27 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage space and the option of adding a MicroSD card or second SIM. The camera has 16 megapixels on the back, and 8 megapixels on the front. Android 7.0 Nougat is installed and an update to Android 8.0 is on the way, but the phone is fairly close to stock Android, with only a few apps and features added by Land Rover and Bullitt.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

This includes the ViewRanger app, and an app to display key information relevant to your activity, all pulled from online sources and the built-in sensors. If you’re hiking, the screen shows the compass, weather information, barometric data, and more. If you’re cycling, it shows speed, distance traveled, and other details. A quick-access widget is placed on the home screen to make it easy to find on the move, and you can set up multiple profiles to track different activities.

We also really liked a special night vision filter that can be applied to the screen. Think of it like a reading mode for viewing the screen in ultra-low lighting. The screen goes almost red in color, which minimizes any glare that obscures vision when you look away. Important if your safety depends on seeing where you’re going.

Live the life

The Land Rover Explore is made to appeal to those who don’t want a Cat phone, due to its utilitarian looks and possibly superfluous functionality. It’s also for people who who would rather opt for a rugged device, over an all-glass, expensive smartphone.

Land Rover Explore Compared To

Motorola Moto E4

Google Pixel

Lenovo Moto G4 Play

Oppo F1

HTC One A9

Huawei P8 lite

Motorola Moto G (2015)

YotaPhone 2

Mlais M9

ZTE Blade S6

Asus PadFone X

Sony Xperia Z1S

Sprint Vital

Sony Xperia ZL

Samsung Galaxy S4

What it’s not is a phone only for Land Rover owners, despite the brand’s input. We see it as a lifestyle phone, fitting in with the activities of people who either do buy a Land Rover, or desire one. We dislike dreary, cash-in brand partnerships, and are thankful the Land Rover Explore doesn’t fall into such a category.

However, for it to succeed long term, more modules need to come. Bullitt told Digital Trends it is working on others, and is keeping tight control over those that make it to production. It wants them to serve a purpose, and benefit the type of person that buys the Explore in the first place. It won’t be offering a hardware development kit, for example, stopping dozens of unneeded battery packs from third-party developers.

For it to succeed long term, more modules need to come.

We’ve heard this before, and have still seen modular phones fail — LG with the G5 and its Friends, and Google’s own Project Ara — so we’d be wary of buying the Land Rover Explore on the basis of what modules may come in the future. But for now, if the Explore fits in with your lifestyle and it’s a struggle to find a phone that keeps up, this could be exactly what you’re looking for.

You’ll pay 600 British pounds, or $839 for the Land Rover Explore and the Adventure Pack when it goes on sale in April. There are no plans to bring it to the U.S. at the moment.

DT Giveaway: We’re Giving Away Eight LG V30 Smartphones

As the winner of the coveted DT Editor’s Choice award, the LG V30 was one of our absolute favorite smartphones of 2017. From its beefy Snapdragon 835 processor, to its absolutely sublime six-inch OLED display, the LG V30 is the perfect blend of style and substance. Featuring a best in class 16MP dual camera display, the LG V30 will help you get the perfect shot every time.

In honor of Mobile World Congress, we’re teaming up with LG Mobile to give eight winners their own unlocked LG V30! Follow the link below to enter, then check out our full review of the V30 here.

*Eight prizes. Contest limited to participants in U.S. only.

DT Giveaway: LG V30

Editors’ Recommendations

• The LG V30: Everything you need to know about LG’s flagship smartphone
• LG’s mobile division reports big losses in fourth quarter
• How to buy the LG V30 unlocked, and on every carrier
• LG Tribute Dynasty budget smartphone hits Boost Mobile, coming soon to Sprint
• LG will sell only 300 ‘super premium’ Signature Edition smartphones

LG will bring new photography-focused K8 and K10 to MWC

LG will announce new additions to its K8 and K10 budget range at MWC 2018. The new additions will seemingly focus on bringing flagship-level photography to the budget market.

LG K10

The K10 comes in three different editions, all with a 5.3-inch screen running a 1,280 x 720 resolution. Buyers will be able to choose between the standard K10, the K10+, and the K10α (“Alpha”). The K10 and K10α will sport similar internal specs, rocking 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage, while the pumped up K10+ contains 3GB of RAM and 32GB of initial storage. As in the K8, all three versions of the K10 will have a MicroSD card slot, and be capable of expanding available storage by up to a mighty 2TB. It’s all powered by a hefty 3,000mAh battery.

The K10 and K10+ will both be equipped with the same 13-megapixel camera technology we saw on the LG G6, an impressive addition to a budget phone. However, the K10 only has a single lens, and it won’t be wide-angle. Around the front of the K10 and K10+ you’ll find two lenses — an 8MP lens and a wide-angle 5MP lens. Together, those support the “bokeh” portrait mode we saw on many 2017 flagships and a wide-angle selfie mode, allowing users to get larger groups in shot or show more of the background. This camera suite is backed up by LG’s PDAF auto-focus, which LG claims is 23-percent faster than normal auto-focus.

The K10α seems to be a lower priced version, likely intended for developing markets, and sees a small downgrade in camera tech, having an 8MP lens on the rear and a single 5MP normal lens on the front. It seems to still support the PDAF seen on the other versions.

The rear of the metallic-style K10 will house the fingerprint sensor, which also works as a Quick Shutter for the camera.

LG K8

The smaller LG K8 comes in a single edition, and will sport a 5-inch display running the same 1,280 x 720 resolution as the larger K10. The device comes with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage, and the option for up to 2TB of expandable storage with a MicroSD card. The 2,500mAh battery seems small by today’s standards, but should be more than sufficient to keep the modest specifications running for a good battery life — and it’s also removable and replaceable.

You’ll find a similar camera suite to the K10α on the K8 — an 8MP lens on the rear and a 5MP on the front. The tech has been tweaked from the last K8, improving low-light performance and keeping fan-favorite features Auto Shot, Gesture Shot, Flash for Selfie, and Quick Share.

Both phones will come in a variety of colors, including Aurora Black, Moroccan Blue, and Terra Gold. You can find more of what to expect at MWC 2018 in our handy guide.

Editors’ Recommendations

• LG Tribute Dynasty budget smartphone hits Boost Mobile, coming soon to Sprint
• The LG V30: Everything you need to know about LG’s flagship smartphone
• Honor 7X vs. Moto E4 Plus: Big-screen budget battle
• Sony’s latest Xperia smartphones boast changes, but not a major redesign
• A few minor changes differentiate this year’s Nokia 6 from its predecessor

Why February 25 is the most important day of MWC (or maybe not)

Officially, 2018’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) starts on February 26, but for many attendees, the day of greatest anticipation is a day earlier, February 25. Why? Because that’s when we finally get to know the new Samsung Galaxy S9. Not everyone believes that the presentation of the latest member of the Galaxy family is the most important thing at the show, however.

“We don’t focus on device launches as something essential for our show,” explained Michael O’Hara, CMO of the GSMA — the trade group that organizes the MWC show — in an interview with Digital Trends Español. Although O’Hara noted that the organization is very happy with launches like the Galaxy S9, he pointed out that there was no event of this magnitude last year, and does not consider that the strength or success of the Mobile World Congress.

Objetivos del #MWC2018 : más #Negocios , más #mujeres y más #Seguridad , sin olvidarnos del nuevo #GalaxyS9 https://t.co/6PfLIV9coD pic.twitter.com/GGbacBTrEY

— DT en Español (@DigitalTrendsEs) February 21, 2018

In fact, what takes place in Barcelona is something else. It’s about doing business, business, and more business. “The MWC is successful because industry leaders, regulators, and governments come and do their business,” he stresses.

And in that sense, the figures that accompany MWC show their importance. In addition to some 2,300 exhibitors, 170 international delegations and 108,000 attendees, it also entails the creation of 13,000 temporary jobs and an economic impact of 471 million Euros. In fact, since 2006, the MWC has generated 4.4 million Euros and created of 115,000 part-time jobs. Not bad!

Possible change of venue?

It’s obvious therefore that the mere possibility of a change of headquarters would be a great loss for Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain in general. But at the present the GSMA has an agreement with these three parties (city, state, country), so Barcelona remains the headquarters of MWC — at least until 2023. Whether that changes will depend above all on one thing: “that you can guarantee a safe environment for the event.”

Despite the secession vote and subsequent protests that have taken place recently in the Catalan capital, and the strong independence movement that still live and breathe in all of Catalonia, the truth is that this requirement is illogical. Despite everything, for the GSMA, “the city of Barcelona works very well, and we want it to continue being headquarters,” O’Hara clarifies.

What is expected this year at MWC are fewer interventions of super-known industry leaders such as Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg or Google CEO Sundar Pichai — events that were present at previous MWC events and drew great publicity and press. The motive?

“This year we’ve decided to make things a little different. We wanted to have leaders from more emerging industries. Focus on technologies that can make a difference and that can change the world, “O’Hara explains.

More female presence and greater security

Likewise, in order to change things, the MWC of 2018 will have a greater female presence in terms of the participant speakers, as well as the attendees to this technology fair. “Twenty-five percent of our speakers are women this year,” said O’Hara, who wants the show to be a little more diverse.

But that’s not the only thing that worries O’Hara. Therefore, to avoid a recurrent problem during the MWC, this year will increase the security during the event. Thefts are a daily issue in Spain,especially in Barcelona. However, the organization is working and collaborating closely with local authorities to increase the police presence with special attention this year.

All for the purpose of allowing entrance to the event only to authorized persons, and to try to have fewer reports on thefts. “It’s not possible to eliminate crime, but to try to reduce the number of reports,” concludes the GSMA’s marketing director.

Our predictions

MWC expects to reap the same success as past shows in 2018 — and indeed, to exceed it in some ways.

No doubt, that will be thanks to events such as Samsung and the presentation of its Galaxy S9, along with the announcements and novelties of other important industry players such as Huawei, LG and HTC, to name a few — even if it is not the priority for the GSMA. There is a lot of excitement and many curious and experts are ready to see what is happening and what comes out of this Mobile World Congress. Whether or not they will meet expectations, we’ll know soon enough.

But if you want to know in advance with a little more detail the ads on phones and other devices that we hope, do not miss our predictions.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Thanks Samsung, you’ve ruined Mobile World Congress 2018
• Samsung, LG, Sony, Huawei: Here’s what to expect at MWC 2018
• Here are five features we’d like to see on the Samsung Galaxy S9
• Watch Samsung’s CES 2018 press conference live at 2 p.m. PT today
• Here is everything that we know about the Samsung Galaxy S9

Pay once to host your website for life with Dragify

As business moves online and people’s attention moves to the web more and more, having your own website is more than an asset — it’s almost a necessity. But maintaining a website means paying monthly or yearly hosting fees which can quickly add up over time.

Fortunately, there are companies like Dragify Website Hosting which will keep your website hosted and domain registered for a one-time payment of just $49.99.

This deal from Windows Central Digital Offers is here to alleviate frustration and to alleviate the strain on your bank account. Dragify is also a custom website designer that lets you create your own website the way you want it, which is included for free to allow you to create professional-looking sites without scripting or coding. Typically this service would cost you upwards of $600, but with this deal, you’ll save 83%. This weekend only, you can save an additional 40% by using coupon code USA40 at checkout! That brings your price down to just 29.99!

Dragify uses Litespeed Web Servers which handle traffic spikes and neutralizes DDoS attacks with ease, while CloudLinux prevents individual sites from using too many resources while also providing better security. You’ll also be able to create as many 500MB email accounts, forwarders, and auto-responders as required for your business or site.

Having your own website, whether it’s for personal promotion or for your business, is an important tool to have in your promotional arsenal. And if you’re creating a site just for fun or to have as a creative outlet, then it’s even more important that Dragify is incredibly easy, since you want to get to the fun and creativity sooner rather than later. And why continue to pay monthly hosting fees get a lifetime subscription to Dragify Website hosting for only $49.99 at Windows Central Digital Offers?

See at Android Central Digital Offers

Best Cases for the Honor View 10

Protect your Honor View 10 with one of these cases.

The Honor View 10 is a slick new phone with a modern design and plenty of power to back it up, but it’s also made entirely of aluminum, which is notoriously slippery and easy to scratch. If you’re thinking about picking up a View 10 any time soon, a case wouldn’t be a bad idea.

There aren’t too many cases for the View 10 at the moment — after all, the phone itself isn’t even out yet — but we’ve sought out some of the best cases you should consider.

• Avidet Hard Back
• Zeking Ultra Slim
• KuGi Folio
• TopAce Ultra Thin
• Armor-X

Avidet Hard Back

The Avidet Hard Case is a simple case for those that just want a little protection for the back of their phone. Rather than wrapping around all of its edges, this case simply snaps onto the sides of the View 10 and adds some much-needed grip.

It’s made of a hard polycarbonate to withstand any scratches or dents that would otherwise deface the View 10’s aluminum back, and it leaves plenty of room on the bottom and sides for easy access to buttons and ports.

If you want to pick up an Avidet case for yourself, it’ll only run you about $8 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Zeking Ultra Slim

If you’re a bit more prone to dropping your phone, you may be better off with the Zeking Ultra Slim. This case provides coverage around the body of the View 10 with a grippy TPU material, and adds extra padding to the corners, where the phone is most likely to take damage.

Since the Zeking case is clear, you’re still able to see the anodized aluminum finish of the View 10 — especially nice if you have the bold red or blue models. There’s no price listed yet, so we’ll update when it is.

See at Amazon

KuGi Folio

Perhaps a folio case is more your style. KuGi offers a folio case made of TPU and polyurethane that allows you to prop up the View 10 for a more convenient video watching experience.

KuGi includes magnets to help keep the case shut when not in use, and there are various cutouts giving easy access to the buttons and ports.

This is one of the cheapest case on the list, at just $6 (though shipping costs just as much).

See at Amazon

TopAce Ultra Thin

For the no-nonsense shopper, the TopAce Ultra Thin is the most traditional case — a simple TPU cover that wraps all the way around the sides of the View 10 and creates a protective lip for the front. It’s flexible, making it easy to apply and remove, and the combination of brushed metal and carbon fiber stylings make for an attractive look.

Like other cases in this list, the TopAce cover adds extra protection to the corners, and goes a step further with a shock-resistant inner lining.

You can snag the TopAce Ultra Thin on Amazon for just $8.

See at Amazon

Armor-X

This is easily the most niche case of the list. Like plenty of other cases, the Armor-X case protects the View 10 from drops with shock-resistant TPU, but you’ll notice something a little different about it. On the back of the case is a large mount Armor-X calls its X-Mount adapter, which allows you to attach the View 10 to bicycles, belt clips, and even carabiners.

The X-Mount adapter also doubles as a kickstand, allowing you to prop up the View 10 and take advantage of its large display for watching videos.

The Armor-X case definitely isn’t for everyone, but if it piques your interest, you can order one for around $25.

See at Armor-X

Which one would you buy?

There may not be as many cases available for the View 10 as there are for more popular phones, but hopefully the ones we presented have given you some ideas. Are you ordering any of them for your View 10? Let us know in the comments below!

A parent’s guide to kids using their phone during an active shooter event

The ability to communicate is powerful when everything goes wrong.

Crisis situations come in all shapes and sizes, and when you are not there with your kid to protect them these events can be equally terrifying. While the most important thing is staying safe, there’s nothing wrong with being prepared and knowing the best way to navigate a bad situation. It’s not always easy to remember the right thing to do in those situations even as adults, but if your son or daughter has their phone nearby they have access to a ton of things that can be both life saving and eye opening.

Here’re a couple of simple ways you can teach your kids to use their phones effectively in these situations, to keep themselves and others safe.

Know who to contact first

First and foremost, your phone is a communication tool. If something terrible has happened around you and you notice it first, get somewhere safe and call 911. Give the operator as much information as possible, and do everything you can to follow their instructions. If you need to remain on the phone with the operator, leave the call app and text your family while the call is happening. Communicate with as many people in your immediate family as possible, but remember to give as much information as you can about what is happening around you.

If calling isn’t an option, either due to noise or concern for your safety if you are speaking, don’t hesitate to text. Whatever kind of message you can get out to your immediate family, do so. You may not be able to call 911, but there’s a good chance they can. Regardless of how you are communicating, make sure you include:

• A simple, direct description of what you think is happening
• Whether you are safe, and if you feel like you will continue to be safe
• If this event involves people with malicious intent and you have seen them, describe them

A solid app for giving multiple family members some information immediately is Google’s Trusted Contacts app. It lets you quickly share an “I’m OK” kind of message, and if your family members ping you first and you don’t answer within a few minutes, the phone will share its location with only your family members.

It’s also important for parents to do as much as possible to respond as frequently as possible, but not to demand responses. Do not try to call them, make sure they know to call you when they feel they are totally safe. Being calm and patient in this situation is impossible, but it’s what your child needs right now. Use the information your child is providing you to communicate with the authorities. Ask simple questions, remind your child to give as much detail as possible to help you, but stay as calm as possible.

Apps to help in a crisis

You don’t have to be constantly using your phone for it to be useful. There are some basic apps you can have installed on your phone to help you out no matter what.

• Install a voice recorder app. Turn it on when something happens and put your phone back in your pocket.
• Use an ICE app so someone can find you if your phone is left behind.
• Download maps for your area so your phone has a map even if you can’t connect to a network.

Your phone also has a few tricks baked in that will be useful:

• Set your phone to power save mode when you are somewhere safe, so no matter what you’ve got some extra battery.
• Remember most phones have a radio built in when you add headphones, but not every phone has an app built-in to use this feature
• Many USB-C phones and tablets can charge other electronics, so if you are with a group of people you can charge a single phone and keep it alive longer if necessary. Just make sure you have the right cable.

Using your camera in a crisis

If you feel compelled to record or broadcast what is happening around you, do it. Just make sure you are doing it as safely as possible. If you see something that you feel needs to be shared with as many people as possible, you absolutely have the tools to do so with your phone. Just make sure you are not endangering yourself or anyone else in the process.

• Stay low, and don’t move around too much. Try to record where you are, and nowhere else.
• Stay quiet, and try to ensure others near you are doing the same. Don’t draw any unnecessary attention to yourself.
• Make sure you have included the appropriate information in the broadcast or video via text, so there’s no confusion.
• Make sure your volume is all the way down before you do anything.

Finally, don’t try to install a new app right there. Use what you have, even if that’s just the camera app. Recording video to publish later is a lot safer. If you already have a live streaming app installed, there’s nothing wrong with using that instead of recording. Use what you are most comfortable with.

Stay safe, no matter what

Nobody wants to think about what they would do in a bad situation, but talking to your children about the right things to do will help prepare them for the worst. Even if this information never gets used, having it is better than not.

Stay safe, keep those around you safe, and remember your phone is an incredibly helpful tool if you know how to use it.

Let Seagate’s $76 external drive keep 3TB of your most important files backed up

A must-have.

Seagate’s 3TB Expansion desktop hard drive offers a ton of storage space in a rather small package, which makes it very desirable. It doesn’t take up a ton of space on your desk and with its USB 3.0 connection it makes backing up and transferring files a breeze. Whether you have a large photo library or keep local copies of all your important tax documents, this external drive can be useful to everyone in the family.

It is compatible with both Windows and Mac, though the company notes that you may need to reformat the drive to use it with a Mac machine. This drive is part of a larger one-day sale that includes tons of other storage devices, routers, modems and more.

See at Amazon

Deal: Get 74% off lease price of Galaxy Note8, S8, S8+ from Sprint!

For a limited time, you can save 74% off the lease price of a new Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 or S8+ from Sprint, with $0 down, on an 18-month lease.

See Note 8 at Sprint See S8 at Sprint See S8+ at Sprint

Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom Plan

If you’re looking to pair up your new phone with a plan, Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom is one of the cheapest on the market with 4 lines for $25/mo per line and 5th line free (until 03/31/19), with autopay. Plus Hulu is now included!

• Unlimited talk, text, and data. Once you’ve reached 23GB of data, your speeds may temporarily slow down during times of high network congestion.
• HD video, 1080p
• 10GB of 4G mobile hotspot

The finer print:

• This deal requires a new line of service activation and an 18-month lease. Well-qualified customers are eligible.
• At the end of the 18-month lease, you have the option to buy your device. You’ll pay the balance between the full price and what you’ve paid so far.
• There are taxes on any device you go with and you’ll have to pay that up front regardless.
• If you cancel your service, the remaining device balance will become due.

FCC hopes opening up communication airwaves will boost innovation

Today, the FCC voted to move forward with a proposal to open up communications spectrum beyond 95 GHz. In a statement, it said that spectrum above this range has been thought to be at the edge of what’s usable, but now it wants to provide different levels of authorization to use the spectrum to, as Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement, “promote innovation and help put this spectrum to its best use.” Pai noted that some might be skeptical as to whether spectrum above 95 GHz can actually be used, but he added, “The point is that we must be open to new technologies that haven’t even been developed. And while we don’t know precisely how far the laws of physics will permit us to go, we do know there’s potential and interest. Engineers and entrepreneurs need to have the ability to push the envelope.”

Today the @FCC is “Moving On Up” by taking steps to more efficiently use #spectrum above 95 GHz. It has my support. #OpenMtgFCC

— Mignon Clyburn (@MClyburnFCC) February 22, 2018

The FCC proposes 102.2 GHz of spectrum be available for licensed services, 15.2 GHz available for unlicensed devices and that a new type of experimental license be available for spectrum between 95 GHz and 3 THz. For the latter, the FCC says, “These licenses will give innovators more flexibility, compared to the existing experimental licensing rules, by including a longer license term and license transferability to encourage investment and allowing the sale of equipment during market trials.”

Additionally, the FCC voted to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would institute guidelines in accordance with Section 7 of the Communications Act, which requires the FCC to respond to new technology proposals in a timely manner. While Section 7 was passed in 1983, no clear rules have been set in regards to it. “So today, we’re proposing clear guidelines and procedures to implement Section 7,” Pai said in a statement. “Our goal is simple: to ensure that the FCC doesn’t stand as a gatekeeper between entrepreneurs who need our OK for new technologies and services and American consumers who can benefit from those innovations.” While the proposal to open up higher-range spectrum was supported by all FCC commissioners, Commissioner Clyburn dissented to this one in part and Commissioner Rosenworcel dissented in full.

Both Notices of Proposed Rulemaking will be up for public comment.

Source: FCC (1), (2)