The Race to 5G Is On

2019-03-06T05:55:38-05:00

If you are reading this in the U.S., there is a good chance you are looking at a smartphone or tablet. Moreover, if you are reading this on a smartphone or tablet, the odds are that you downloaded it over a fourth-generation — or 4G — wireless connection.

4G is the fastest, most reliable mobile broadband technology presently available. The U.S. leads the world in 4G wireless deployment. In fact, while we are home to less than five percent of the globe’s population, we have nearly half of all 4G subscriptions worldwide.

So far, so good. But if we want our wireless future to be bold, we need to do more than rest on our 4G laurels. Because efforts to develop the next generation of wireless technology are already under way. In short, the race to 5G is on.

I can see this clearly from where I sit at the Federal Communications Commission. The world’s wireless economies are busy planning for 5G service, with speeds ranging from one to 10 gigabits per second. South Korea and Japan have plans to deploy 5G services by the time they host the Olympics in 2018 and 2020, respectively. The European Commission has committed to support 5G research with South Korea. In China, three of the nation’s ministries have jointly established a group to promote the development of 5G technologies. There is no need for the U.S. to stay stuck in the starting gate. We can build on our 4G success — if we get going right now.

But what’s the big deal? Why should we even be in this race? Why isn’t our lead on 4G good enough?

Our mobile economy is growing — fast. We are moving from networks designed for analog voice to networks designed for high-speed digital data. Consider the video we are already watching online, plus upcoming services like those just announced by HBO and CBS. Add to this the emerging possibilities for viewing ultra-HD video on tablets and televisions. Then consider that the Internet of Things is around the bend, featuring billions of machines with sensors relying on a steady stream of data delivered wirelessly. Stand back, and you can see that the demands on our airwaves are growing at a breathtaking pace.

To meet these demands, we need to think differently about spectrum — the airwaves around us responsible for carrying this data load.

Today, the bulk of our 4G wireless networks are built using spectrum frequencies from 600 megahertz to 3GHz. This is the sweet spot for current mobile communications.

But the 5G future could look different — very different. Instead of sticking to this limited range, we could look up. Way, way, up. In fact, it’s time to bust through our old 3GHz ceiling. We should take a look at spectrum up to 60GHz and maybe all the way up to 90GHz. At these ranges, we can aggregate airwaves in ways that are not possible with our traditional 4G frequencies. This will allow data-intensive applications to ride on channels of magnitude much larger than they do today — much like a four-lane highway expanding to 100 lanes or more.

But at these stratospheric frequencies, there are propagation challenges. While these super-high signals can carry a significant amount of data, they do not go far. However, we can turn this limitation into a strength by combining big bands of these high frequencies with small-sized antennas packed close together. This can create powerful networks at much lower cost. More than that, it can mean wireless services can reach further into buildings at faster speeds than ever before. This is especially useful in cities where population density makes delivering meaningful mobile speeds a special challenge.

To do all of this, however, requires that the U.S. get going. The good news is that this month the FCC adopted its first inquiry into high-band frequencies. It has the less-than-exciting title of Use of Spectrum Bands above 24 GHz for Mobile Radio Services. No matter. This is critical, because it starts a technical conversation among wireless stakeholders. Moreover, it is time to get moving. Because the race to 5G is on — and our mobile future depends on it.

Jessica Rosenworcel is a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission. Reach her @JRosenworcel.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Growing Unlicensed Spectrum, Growing the Wireless Economy

2019-03-06T05:42:35-05:00

Chances are you used wireless technology today. Maybe it was the shiny new tablet or smartphone you received as a gift over the holidays. Or maybe it was the old cordless phone you have had lying around the house for too many years to count. It also could have been one of those things you use every day without much thought, like your television remote control. So many devices and so much of our lives are now dependent on wireless connectivity.

It is no wonder, then, that the demand for our airwaves is growing at a fast clip. Indeed, the need for more licensed spectrum — the airwaves used by wireless carriers — has been widely recognized. But what is less well known is that congestion in our nation’s unlicensed spectrum, which is used for services like Wi-Fi, is also getting crowded.

Why does this coming crush in unlicensed spectrum matter?

For starters, the unlicensed economy represents economic growth. Today, unlicensed wireless devices contribute between $16 billion and $37 billion to our economy annually. To put that in perspective, that is more than Americans spend on milk and bread each year, combined.

The unlicensed economy also represents innovation. Unlicensed airwaves are open for use by anyone willing to experiment. As a result, countless innovations that have made our lives easier and more convenient every day — like garage-door openers and baby monitors — are dependent on unlicensed spectrum.

Finally, the unlicensed economy is critical for Internet connectivity. Today, through Wi-Fi, more than one half of wireless data connections are offloaded onto unlicensed spectrum. Most of that traffic uses a part of the 2.4GHz band. But this spectrum is the home of countless other devices, like cordless phones, wireless speakers and videogame consoles. So, while the 2.4GHz band continues to service us well, it is getting mighty congested.

All of this means that more access to unlicensed airwaves is important — for growth, for innovation, for Internet connectivity. So developing new opportunities for unlicensed spectrum needs attention.

The good news is that the Federal Communications Commission — where I work — has the ability to ratchet up the airwaves used for unlicensed wireless services. But to do so, we need to act fast and act smart.

So, what can the FCC do right now?

We can fix our existing rules for high-frequency airwaves in the 5.1GHz range. If that sounds technical, think about the wireless routers you may have in your home. Today, they use the 5.7GHz band. But the 5.1GHz band could also be made available for Wi-Fi through a change in our rules. In fact, if the FCC extends to the 5.1GHz band, the same script that has made the 5.7GHz band a Wi-Fi success story, a simple software update could significantly boost your wireless router. We could effectively double your unlicensed bandwidth overnight.

Expanding unlicensed service in the 5.1GHz band should not, however, be the end of the story. We can seize unlicensed opportunities across other spectrum bands, too. For instance, that means finding lawful ways to use guard bands in the 600 megahertz spectrum now used by broadcasters. This could help extend the reach of Wi-Fi even further.

So, if we get our unlicensed spectrum policies right, we can seriously expand Wi-Fi opportunities. At the same time, making more unlicensed spectrum available can give a jolt to the coming Internet of Things and machine-to-machine communications.

But above all, the time to act is now — and expanding unlicensed service in the 5.1GHz band is a great place to start. Given the multiplying number of wireless devices in our lives and the growing demands on our airwaves — licensed and unlicensed — now is not a moment too soon.

Jessica Rosenworcel is a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission. Reach her @JRosenworcel.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Jessica Rosenworcel | Vox

The Race to 5G Is On

Growing Unlicensed Spectrum, Growing the Wireless Economy