You would be hard pressed to name any part of the internet access ecosystem that will categorically not want to take advantage of Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum. Mobile and fixed connectivity providers, wireless internet service providers, indoor connectivity specialists (neutral host), enterprises (private networks) all have use cases.
Device and infrastructure suppliers will gain some new opportunities to support the building and operation of networks. And new apps--many of them vertically oriented to specific industries--also will develop.
With Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum auctions planned for June 2020, it also is logical to predict that any would-be users of that spectrum--on either an unlicensed or licensed basis--will start testing use of that 3.5-GHz spectrum now, on an unlicensed basis, to see how well it works.
Device and infrastructure suppliers will gain some new opportunities to support the building and operation of networks. And new apps--many of them vertically oriented to specific industries--also will develop.
With Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum auctions planned for June 2020, it also is logical to predict that any would-be users of that spectrum--on either an unlicensed or licensed basis--will start testing use of that 3.5-GHz spectrum now, on an unlicensed basis, to see how well it works.
In instances where unlicensed use works well, even entities that normally prefer licensed spectrum use might consider remaining in that use mode, and bidding for licenses only in locations where congestion is considered likely (more populated areas).
Entities that routinely rely on unlicensed spectrum, such as wireless internet service providers operating in rural areas are most likely to consider using CBRS in “best effort only” general authorized access mode.
AT&T has said it plans to use CBRS for fixed wireless internet access services.
But indoor operations, to support venue coverage, support neutral host indoor access to all mobile operator services, will supply many use cases. Verizon, for example, plans to use CBRS for access in high-traffic areas such as multi-tenant buildings, hospitals, manufacturing plants, stadiums, venues and airports.
Boingo plans to use CBRS to improve mobile device signal coverage inside terminals at Dalls Love Field Airport.
Since CBRS was first proposed, exclusion zones that originally were defined statically (there were restrictions near coasts) have been replaced by a dynamic system where it is the over-water areas that are subject to preemption. On-shore use of CBRS is possible nearly everywhere.
It still seems probable that tier-one connectivity providers will prefer to license CBRS spectrum access rights, as quality of service concerns generally drive them to want control over capacity assets. Other potential users might have more comfort for unlicensed use.
Smaller firms will appreciate the “no cost” use of spectrum, even if QoS is not assured. In many rural markets, contention will not be much of an issue. Indoor uses, even in urban areas, might likewise add value even when “best effort” is the QoS standard.
The broader issue is the extent to which larger service providers get comfortable with unlicensed access as a complement to licensed assets.
Though commercial use has shifted from LTE-U to LAA since 2017, use of unlicensed 5-GHz (Wi-Fi) spectrum to supplement licensed mobile frequencies now is something T-Mobile US, AT&T and Sprint are doing.
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