CBRS technology uses the cellular LTE protocol,
but it is similar to Wi-Fi in that it is shared spectrum.
The Role of Optical Fiber
Optical fiber remains an integral
part of today’s wireless networks
and will be a cornerstone of tomorrow’s
networks as well. A 2017 report
by Deloitte Consulting LLP states
that “Unlocking the full potential
of 5G in the United States rests on
one key assumption: the extension
of fiber deep into the network.” 5G
promises higher mobile data rate
speeds, including several hundreds
of Megabits per second (MB/s) in
urban environments and 1 Gigabit
per second (GB/s) or higher in indoor
environments, all of which will
require supporting optical fiber
networks that can meet capacity
increases as wireless traffic grows.
Without additional optical fiber
network infrastructure deployments
that reach deeper into metropolitan
centers and edge communities,
Deloitte’s report asserts, “carriers
will be unable to support the
projected four-fold increases in
mobile data traffic between 2016
and 2021.” Due to the increase in
wireless traffic, dark fiber network
operators that deploy high-capacity
optical fiber networks and then
lease capacity (in the form of
number of optical fiber strands)
to customers ranging from
enterprises to mobile network
54 I ICT TODAY
operators, have become significantly
important in addressing wireless
traffic growth. These optical fiber
networks are only activated or lit
when their customers need
increased bandwidth.
In the in-building space, it is
practical to deploy extra optical fiber
during renovation projects, knowing
that the extra fiber capacity will be
used as more connectivity is needed
and more traffic runs across
the network.
CONCLUSION
In today’s mobile-first climate,
connectivity inside buildings
and across campuses is needed
for people to feel safe and secure.
In times of crisis, a person is much
more likely to reach for a mobile
phone than a landline phone
to connect with first responders.
Society continues to embrace
smartphones for security reasons:
mobile safety apps that alert family
and friends, security systems that
monitor activity at home front
doors, and future applications that
have yet to be imagined. A strong
wireless infrastructure will be the
cornerstone for those applications.
Today’s wireless networks and
tomorrow’s future networks rely
on a variety of solutions, especially
technologies and spectrum bands
to bring robust connectivity to
an ever-growing connected society.
BIOGRAPHY: Tracy Ford is the
executive director of Member Services
for the Wireless Infrastructure
Association, a not-for-profit trade
organization whose mission is to enable
mobile networks everywhere. Within
WIA is the HetNet Forum, which
focuses on the role of small cells
and distributed antenna solutions
in densifying communications network
infrastructure. Tracy can be reached
at tracy.ford@wia.org.
REFERENCES:
1. Figure 3 is used with permission
of CommScope. ©CommScope 2019.
All rights reserved.
link