5G Does Not Need Refrigerator-Size Base Cabinets

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Samsung wants to dispel an anecdote making the rounds at the Mobile World Congress Americas last week. “There is a rumor that 5G small cells will have a component as big as a refrigerator,” said John Godfrey, senior vice president of public policy for Samsung Electronics America. He said that’s not true, speaking to attendees of a 5G panel held by the American Enterprise Institute Monday. AEI is a Washington-D.C.-based conservative think tank.

AT&T plans to use millimeter wave spectrum to deploy 5G in urban areas and use low and mid-band spectrum for suburban and rural deployments. The carrier selected Samsung, Nokia and Ericsson as its technology suppliers.  

The rumor generated from an FCC change earlier this year, that streamlined historic reviews for siting small cells. Some of the language refers to 28 cubic feet or less capacity, regarding the inside of the cabinet, according to Godfrey. But in that instance, the agency was thinking about macro towers, not small cells.  

“5G will not have that,” Godfrey said as he held up a casing that holds 24 antenna elements. The new Commission rule actually “applies to something smaller,” Godfrey said. He added: “Samsung would be happy to put a refrigerator in your kitchen. But there will not be a refrigerator on your street lights.”

Samsung displayed small cell base stations at the show last week. This particular device will be placed on top of a street light pole, clustered on the side of a pole, or on the corner of a building. Perhaps one cabinet would need to be placed about every 2,000 feet, Godfrey said. Someone really walked into the Samsung booth last week and asked him where the refrigerator-size device would be placed for a small cell installation, he said. Comments? leslie@insidetowers.com

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

September 19, 2018