Release of up to 150 MHz of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) will provide an early test of how additional spectrum resources might affect market share, profits and revenue in the mobile and fixed internet access business.
By way of comparison, the CBRS could add, in most parts of the country, more spectrum than Verizon or T-Mobile US possess, nearly as much as AT&T has available and 75 percent as much spectrum as Sprint--the mobile operator with the most capacity--commands.
In other words, CBRS arguably creates the equivalent of a new national mobile operator, in terms of capacity, able to operate using unlicensed access in many cases, using likely less-costly licensed spectrum in other cases.
That will enable some enterprises to create their own campus networks, able to run 4G protocols. CBRS also is likely to allow wireless internet access providers to create new fixed wireless networks with more capacity than available at present.
In other cases, neutral host venue networks might be created that offer all service providers better indoor mobile network coverage.
In principle, AT&T and Verizon also could use such spectrum, but they seem to be focusing most on bigger blocks of spectrum in the millimeter band, including 24 GHz, 28 GHz, 31 GHz and higher bands.
The U.S. fixed wireless market is comprised of 2,000 network operators averaging 1,200 customers each, according to the Carmel Group.
The report forecasts strong growth for the U.S. fixed wireless market, which is projected to grow from more than four million subscribers today to eight million by 2021. New lines added by the likes of AT&T will largely drive that growth.
Over that period, it also is possible that Verizon could emerge as a major new provider, using 5G fixed wireless as a substitute for fiber to home access.
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