Few would quibble with the notion that extensive use of millimeter wave spectrum at 24 GHz and higher will require use of optical fiber connections. What is not so clear is whether that also is true for mid-band spectrum in the 3.5 GHz to 4 GHz region.
Frequency and signal propagation are inversely related: the higher the frequency, the shorter the range. There also is an direct relationship between frequency and capacity: the higher the frequency, the greater the potential bandwidth.
But there is a really important reason why better radio technologies and mid-band spectrum are important: those technologies can allow a macrocell network designed to support 4G to also support 5G, using the same cell sites.
Lower “coverage” frequencies are valuable not only because of propagation distance, which means fewer cells have to be built, but also because lower frequencies provider better indoor coverage. That is one reason why indoor coverage networks are going to be more important as millimeter wave spectrum is put to commercial use.
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