Six firms including Google parent Alphabet, Intel, Nokia and Qualcomm set up the CBRS Alliance in the US to encourage 4G-based products in shared spectrum at 3.5GHz.

The companies previously announced their intention to build an ecosystem around the adoption of LTE in the CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) band earlier this year, and are now following through on the earlier commitment.

Previously, new rules were adopted by the US Federal Communications Commission relating to the CBRS in 3550-3700MHz band. This happened in April last year. The rules allow licensed and unlicensed use of the band by a variety of services.

Among the benefits suggested by the FCC were making additional spectrum available for flexible wireless broadband use as well as wider deployment of wireless broadband in industrial applications.

The membership of the CBRS Alliance includes Access Technologies, part of Alphabet, whose role is to deploy high-speed broadband across the US using wireless technology, as well as Google Fiber.

However, Alphabet, which recently acquired fixed wireless provider Webpass, has become more focused on using wireless technology for bridging the last-mile connection.

The other members of the CBRS Alliance are Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm, Federated Wireless and Ruckus Wireless.

The alliance announced that Neville Meijers, VP of small cells with Qualcomm, will be its chairman.

The group will work towards LTE-based CBRS field trials in the second half of 2016. It is also developing a certification process for successful deployments of the technology.

The announcement added there are impending allocations of 3400-3600 MHz for IMT in several countries, although it did not say which ones.