MulteFire Alliance Launches Certification Program for 1.9 GHz in Japan

FREMONT, CA – October 22, 2019 – The MulteFire Alliance today announced the launch of its MulteFire 1.9 GHz Certification Program. The certification program will ensure that MulteFire devices are interoperable and conform to the MulteFire 1.1 specification. The MulteFire 1.9 GHz Certification Program will test eNodeB devices in the 1.9 GHz band in Japan, verifying that devices in this channel can effectively interoperate and communicate via LTE. The program is open to MulteFire Alliance members and their devices that pass certification may use the “MulteFire Certified” logo and certification mark to promote and give end users confidence their product has passed rigorous interoperability testing.

“The launch of the MulteFire Alliance 1.9 GHz Certification Program in Japan marks a critical step forward in the development of new wireless networks with LTE technology operating standalone in unlicensed and shared spectrum bands,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MulteFire Alliance. “We’re excited to officially begin certification of MulteFire devices in Japan and have plans to expand the program to enable certification of MulteFire devices to additional geographic regions around the world.”

1.9 GHz Certification Supports Business-Critical Applications in Japan
MulteFire in 1.9 GHz supports industrial IoT, utilities, transportation and more. The MulteFire Release 1.1 specification which added support for the 1.9 GHz band, also known as sXGP in Japan, takes advantage of the massive device ecosystem in 3GPP Band 39.

“The XGP Forum has long-supported the development of 1.9 GHz in Japan and we see this as the next evolutionary step in the continuing of the legacy LTE ecosystem,” said Yoshiya Iribe, secretary general, XGP Forum. “Vendors in Japan now have the ability to reduce system costs and achieve quick time-to-market.  Only small modifications at the eNodeB side are needed to obtain co-existence with existing DECT and PHS systems in the same band. The 1.9 GHz Certification Program will give end users confidence that their devices will work.”

DEKRA Named 1.9 GHz Authorized Test Lab (ATL)
DEKRA, a MulteFire Alliance member and world-leading expert organization providing product certification and technical reports, will serve as the first authorized test lab for the MulteFire Alliance 1.9 GHz Certification Program. DEKRA offers regulatory, conformance, interoperability, performance, usability, field, and other services for all the key wireless technologies. DEKRA has a large network of testing and certification laboratories with presence in Japan and other key regions. The MulteFire Alliance Authorized Test Lab is located in Yokohama, Japan.

“Being the first Authorized Test Lab (ATL) of MulteFire Alliance enhances our position as a leading provider of test services for private LTE,” commented Fernando E. Hardasmal, Executive Vice President and Head of Service Division Product Testing at DEKRA. “Since 2017, DEKRA has supported the MulteFire Alliance’s efforts in delivering MulteFire technology in unlicensed spectrum bands for private LTE networks.”

For more information on DEKRA, contact info.japan@dekra.com or visit www.dekra-product-safety.com.

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About the MulteFire Alliance

The MulteFire Alliance is an international association dedicated to building a global ecosystem in support of the common interests of members, developers and users in the application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next-generation mobile cellular technology, such as 5G New Radio, in configurations that use unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. For more information about MulteFire, its benefits, or how to become a member of the MulteFire Alliance, visit www.MulteFire.org.