The U.S. led the world in deploying 4G, and the FCC wants America to lead again in 5G. Why? Because the country that sets the pace in rolling out a new technology gains an economic edge, according to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The regulator is set to address Connect (X) attendees this Wednesday.
“The United States was the first to build out 4G LTE networks broadly, and a recent analysis estimated that our leadership boosted our GDP by $100 billion and increased wireless-related jobs in the United States by 84 percent,” Pai writes in an Op Ed for the Tampa Bay Times. The potential impact of 5G could be even greater, he says, writing from a consumer perspective. “Imagine a world where everything that can be connected will be connected — where driverless cars talk to smart transportation networks and where wireless sensors can monitor your health and transmit data to your doctor.”
He describes his travels to Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL this month to see 5G-ready infrastructure. Charter’s test of 5G spectrum, included 90 Mbps speeds and video streaming in a vehicle that moved from the coverage area of one small cell to another. AT&T’s small cell deployment helped ease network congestion and set the stage for 5G, according to the Chairman.
He believes Florida is on the leading edge of 5G but there’s more that Commission can do, like removing regulatory barriers that slow the network buildout. 5G infrastructure won’t be comprised of massive cell towers alone, but will mean companies will deploy “hundreds of thousands of small cells, densely packed together, relatively less conspicuous and operating at lower power,” says Pai.
That’s why the FCC recently updated its rules to make clear that small cells shouldn’t trigger federal historic preservation and environmental reviews designed for 200-foot-tall towers, writes Pai. And that’s why Florida made it easier last year to place small wireless facilities in rights-of-way.
May 21, 2018
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