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Can Fixed Wireless Compete with Cable Modems?

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With all the talk of the 24GHz spectrum being released, we should expect to see some deployments for FWA very soon. We all know that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile USA are planning to deploy FWA, Fixed Wireless Access.

What is FWA? It’s basically a point to multipoint system with extremely high throughput. Systems like this were big in the early 2000’s using the ISM band. I have deployed many of these systems back when WISPs would deliver broadband to underserved communities. You still needed backhaul. Back then it may have been DSL, maybe fiber, whatever the local telco could deliver to the hot spot. You may remember companies like Alvarion, WaveAccess, or Proxim. I don’t know if any of them provide PTMP solutions anymore, but they were PTMP equipment manufacturers early on.

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This was typical back when 1Mbps and 10Mbps access was sufficient. Guess what, now it’s not enough. In fact, we scoff at such a low throughput. That’s why the licensed spectrum is critical. We need it to provide reliable throughput at high speeds. We all like Wi-Fi unless it’s in a heavily loaded system because then it sucks. Licensed is the same but it’s a controlled environment. If you’ve ever been on a loaded cell site, then you have the same experience as crappy Wi-Fi. The idea here is that, hypothetically, the 24GHz spectrum will have enough spectrum to allow multiple users to have gigabit throughput simultaneously.Small Cell Cover 4

Imagine LTE or 5G NR formats pumping data at lightning speeds. This is a game changer. It should exceed what Wi-Fi can do, but we will still have Wi-Fi in our homes, but they will be fed with this spectrum through a FWA modem. That will compete with cable modems! High throughput with broadband spectrum.

What is the key?

The key to making this a success lies in several areas.

  • Easy installation. The installation has to be easy, very easy. Did you ever install a cable modem? It sounds so easy, plug and play. It is never that easy, and you always need help, and there is always some freaking cable issue. Once it works and is set up, it’s great. It’s just getting there, running the cable, trying to test it, and the cable guy wanting to put a hole in your house or apartment to get it to work. Why can’t they make it easier? If the wireless modem can be easy to install with minimal connections and wireless backhaul, then life is good. Easy is the key to mass deployment.official logo
  • Make it mobile. While the cable company says all you have to do it take your box with you, did you ever do that? I did. It’s never that easy, it won’t always work at the new home, and you usually need to go to the store or schedule a cable tech visit. I don’t see this getting any better with the carriers because coverage will be an issue early on. The only exception could be Sprint if they can mass deploy 5G on 2.5GHz spectrum. If only they could get out of their own way and deploy properly, then they might be able to pull something like this off. As for the other 3, they will have spotty coverage at best when they start to deploy 24GHz.
  • Bundling will be key. You already see Comcast doing this with their Wi-Fi and Verizon mobility package. They know that if they can lock you into a cable, internet, and mobile contract, it will be tough for you to leave. I believe Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T know this as well. They will do all that they can to provide you with package deals you can’t refuse.
  • Customer service will play a part. Comcast is learning this. Do you remember when they had the worst customer service? I do! They sucked, but they also turned it around. They knew that people were starting to loathe the company because nobody wants to talk to an asshole. They associate that one jerk with the entire company. While Verizon and AT&T think they have this figured out, I know that T-Mobile does. T-Mobile understands that people call only when they are already upset and frustrated. They know that a live customer service rep is valuable to the caller. They know that a quick resolution matters and they have been doing all that they can to provide the best service. That will be a game changer moving ahead.
  • Contracts will make a fundamental Do any of you have a cable contract that just sucks? I do. I am locked into Comcast for 2 years with a TV setup that I don’t care for because I have to buy some stupid bundle that I don’t really want. Why can’t I get the channels I want for the price I want to pay? Why do I have to commit to a timeline and see my price go up the day it’s done? Because Comcast is going to soak me until they have real competition. Listen, the TV doesn’t matter to me that much anymore, the internet does. So, the TV programming is losing value now that we have Netflix and Amazon Prime. Comcast knows this, but they want to soak me for as much as they can until they need to change. I get it. The almighty dollar matters more to them than making me happy. Oh, the customer service rep will say that these are the only packages available, and they are. So, it’s not their fault, is it? I blame Comcast and when I have a choice, which way do you think I will go. Payback is a bitch! I would be willing to bet I am not the only one.
  • Service of actual broadband. If the carriers can really provide 1Gbps to each household, then they will provide a viable alternative to the cable companies.

Millennial versus Baby Boomer

OK, technically, I am in the baby boomer generation while my wife is a Gen X and my kids are all millennials. Why does this matter? Because people my age still watch TV, although less and less of it. The Gen X group still watches TV, but the shift is happening. millennial watch internet TV, they just want internet access, and they could care little about the Cable packages. They don’t want cable, they just get it because the cable companies shove it down their throats. I know, my kids tell me that to get a cable modem, they need to get basic cable. That is one big reason why they will flock away from cable companies.

If you’re wondering why I brought this up, it’s because the millennial will be the death of the cable companies. You see, all they want is internet access. All that crap about the cable TV packages is going out the window. They want to pay for what they use when they use it. While we make fun of them for the “me now” generation, the reality is they will not pay for a 2-year package that sucks. Who proved this? T-Mobile USA! That’s right. If T-Mobile can roll this out with the same marketing and packages that the “un-carrier” did for its mobile packages, they will crush the competition. Competition here is not only Verizon and AT&T, but Comcast, Charter, and all the other cable companies.

T-Mobile’s John Leger has a great marketing platform for the millennials that resonates. He got them while they were young and built loyalty. He warned the cable companies that he was coming. Well, the time will be in about 6 months when he will make good on that promise. Hello T-Mobile, the new WISP in town.

Packages, we don’t need no stinking packages!

OK, I got that from Blazing Saddles, https://youtu.be/-lj056ao6GE. Packages are what’s killing the cable industry, and they know it. T-Mobile knows it, and they will do all that they can to make sure that the customer only pays for what they want, like internet access. Verizon and AT&T will ask them to pay for mobile and internet. T-Mobile will figure out a way to offer millennials what they want and nothing more. The cable companies may figure this out, but can they adapt in time? We’ll see. The key is that people are sick of committing to a package that they really don’t want, (I know I am). While Tower Safety for all your safety training!we all look for commitment in our lives, why does it have to be with the freaking cable company? What most people today want is freedom from the corporations! I live in the USA! I live in a culture built on freedom. How many people want to live in this culture? Billions! I believe this is the greatest country in the world, more today than ever. It’s about time we have internet packages that live up to that same belief! I think the carriers will attempt to bring that to us!

Who will win?

It’s too early to tell, but you can see, a lot of variables are at play. The contract matters, service matters, quality matters, throughput matters, and coverage matters. Cable companies have their customers. The customer won’t change unless they are unhappy or it’s a significant cost saving. Change is hard; cable companies know that customers will only leave if they want to change. They have been doing more to keep their customers happy. Is it too little and too late? We shall see. When Verizon and AT&T started their cable plays with FTTH, they got a lot of customers only because the cable companies treated their customers like crap. A lot has changed since then. Cable companies started to wise up.

If I had to pick a winner in the USA, at this time, I would say Verizon and AT&T, only because I think they will deploy quickly and have spectrum. If all things were equal, then I would say T-Mobile because they appeal to the right demographic to make this happen. I don’t know if they could deploy fast enough. T-Mobile has the right mentality to win. They have the right marketing and demographics. They could offer a very attractive package. Let’s face it; they would have the best strategy.

It’s a shame Google won’t enter this market. Google doesn’t have the stomach for a prolonged deployment. Remember Google Fiber, everyone loved it, except Google. They realized several things. FTTH is expensive and hard to deploy. It’s not something you can do overnight. Just like building a wireless network is hard for the same reasons. It takes time and money. You have overcome a lot of enemies. The enemies are your competition, the local municipalities with all the permitting and zoning, the contractors that say they can deliver but can’t, the local residents who don’t want cables or towers on their streets, and so on. It takes grit, patience, and money to build a network of this kind. It’s not like building an app where there are little up-front costs. There are substantial up-front costs. If you have to buy spectrum at an auction, then you spend billions before you deploy one thing. It’s not easy! It has a high cost of entry. It takes grit!

 

  • FTTH= Fiber to the Home
  • FWA = Fixed Wireless Access
  • ISP – Internet Service Provider
  • WISP – Wireless ISP
  • PTMP or P2MP – Point to Multipoint

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  • PTP – Point to Point

 

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How do we get more Backhaul Bandwidth?

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One thing that the tech industry needs is more backhaul. It’s more than just connecting homes. It’s making each location as efficient as

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possible. While business and enterprise need more backhaul, how do they get it? We all need fiber, is there going to be enough? Let’s face it, running fiber is not cheap.

The fiber providers out there have done a pretty good job of putting plenty of strands down. That is until 5G rolls out. Now we need more, more, and even more. How are we going to gain more bandwidth with the fiber we have? Chances are good that we can’t, we will need to lay more down and use all that we have.

FWA = Fixed Wireless Access

FTTH = Fiber to the Home

FTTP = Fiber to the Premise

Is fiber key?

Fiber is critical. It’s a critical necessity of moving ahead, especially with 5G. We need to have fiber deployed to as many places as possible. It needs to be accessible where broadband is needed. Even for IOT, if we want low latency, then we rely on fiber. It’s the foundation of any backhaul at some point.

Fiber is a crucial factor in any broadband access and to any 5G deployment. The question is, how do we extend it?

 

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First off, why do we need an alternative to fiber?

The problem is the time to lay fiber and the cost. Fiber is costly to deploy because of the process, permitting, zoning, and approvals.

The process is a straightforward one. It is where we must plan what we want, how much we want, and try to future proof what we can. Growth needs to be estimated. Anyone who deploys fiber will tell you they could roll out any time.

Lead time from the factory could be an issue. Depending on what you order and how much, it could be over 8 weeks.

That’s not the real delay in rolling out fiber, nor is it the real problem. Running fiber in a city could be an issue for several reasons. Do you need to dig up pavement, a road, or a sidewalk? This is one issue.

Who owns the rights to the pole? Who can get access? What is the rent? What restrictions do you have on the poles?

Then there is the permitting, which the city may or may not grant you, that is another delay.

Then there is the “dig once” policy. If you want to lay fiber, you may need to wait for 3 or 4 other companies that will lay fiber, so you can do it all at the same time. Also, if the city wants fiber, you may have to do them a favor and lay it with your fiber to help speed things up.

Do you get it? Delays and roadblocks, all part of the process. This is where the cable companies have an edge. They have pole rights. They have a run to every home regardless. They plan the new development with developers. They have the processes and plans laid out. They footed a lot of the expense so that they don’t have to do it again and again. They have agreements with the cities. While they did all this, they are in a good position. You would think they 5g-deployment-plan-front-cover-3k-pixelswould run more fiber, but what I have seen is that they tend to stop others from running their fiber. So, this will make the cities look at the process and reevaluate what should be done.

How do we extend the fiber?

We are going to have to get creative. This is where Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have vision. They have the new spectrum, and it will be used for more than the internet to homes. It is going to have a viable business use and for the backhaul to their own small cells for densification. Probably CRAN as well.

However, there are options for the rest of us. The higher spectrums are not all licensed. While they are very short-range, they are good enough to connect buildings, small cells, and other solutions. There is spectrum anyone can use, the lightly licensed and the license-free in the higher spectrums like 60GHz, 70GHz and even 80GHz. Here you can install the gig links.

It’s not just the big carriers, I have installed gig links years back. It works, but it had limitations.
For instance, it is very line of sight, and rain can affect it. Also, it is Get the Wireless Deployment Handbook today!what it is, meaning that if you put in a gig link, then that’s all that is will ever be. Generally, these radios are installed at max capacity, and the only way to increase it is to add another radio. Please be aware, that all the carriers that used microwave in the past replaced as much as they could with fiber for a reason. Fewer alarms and growth.

In the case of a macro site, wireless can get you on the air quick, but it has the limitations I listed. So generally, people use wireless until they need more, then they add fiber. They may keep the wireless as a backup unless the rent is too high.

Now, the radios cost less, the deployments are getting easier, and radios can do more and more. Some are even allowing for more than 1Gbps, which is what we need. It’s changing the way we look at wireless access.

Who can do this?

Anyone can put in a wireless link. I’ve done it several times. Like many of you reading this have. The key is to make money. If you are in the market now, you know that the design and installation costs are near rock bottom. The carriers won’t pay much, and the OEMs won’t pay much, they look at it as a commodity. What does that mean? It means it’s time to move on and drop that business.

Fiber, on the other hand, is a necessity. So, we wait for fiber, and we pay for fiber. We also pay monthly for it. Fiber is deemed valuable. We need it.

What are the carriers doing to get around running fiber everywhere? Sprint has been using UE backhaul. (learn more at https://wade4wireless.com/2015/10/19/what-is-lte-ue-backhaul/ ) Sprint has been using their 2.5GHz spectrum and putting in very cost-effective links. It has limitations, but it’s easy to install and configure. It seems to work well. Just like their “Magic Box,” same concept and it works for small cells. This is what they intended to do for the small cells and mini-macros on poles they tried to roll out with Mobilitie.

While this is cutting edge, they need to plan out the network to make the backhaul available and reliable. If you feed the backhaul into a site with limited bandwidth, you’re asking for trouble.

Here is where the other carriers could utilize the mmwave. It is going to offer even more bandwidth than the 2.5GHz could because each link will be semi-dedicated for that backhaul. So, one fiber run could, in theory, provide 10 or more macro, mini, and small cell sites 1Gbps. Again, in theory, I didn’t test this or anything, but now we are making the most of fiber. We cut down the last 200 feet run costs. We got the remote cell, business, enterprise, IOT radio, whatever, connected and working on a broadband backhaul with low latency. That is going to free up more CapEx and OpEx money for other things.

After all, the wireless link is also becoming a commodity. It must be utilized the best it can, including every fiber drop. While this is a detail, it is a detail that could save money, real money, on backhaul.

What is the fixed spectrum the US carriers have?

The carriers here in the USA have been sucking mmwave spectrum, let’s break it down.

  • Verizon has over 100MHz of 28GHz and 39GHz spectrum.
  • AT&T has over 100MHz in 28GHz and 39GHz spectrum.
  • T-Mobile has 78MHz in the 28GHz
  • Sprint has 200MHz in 14.5 to 15.35GHz spectrum.
  • US Cellular has 10MHz in the 28GHz band.

What about WiGIG?

Here is the unlicensed spectrum, (ISM band), that the FCC released. I am not sure how this will be used, but it looks viable for an indoor solution. I really tried to figure out who is using this.

What is WiGIG? The FCC released unlicensed spectrum from 64GHz to 71GHz, extending the 60GHz band. It is 802.11ad broadband which we call WiGIG. Before we just had the 57GHz to 64GHz spectrum to play with. So, we went from 7GHz of spectrum to 14GHz.

If you’re interested, then go to IEEE’s tutorial at http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/wireless/wi-fi/ieee-802-11ad-microwave.php to learn more.

To be honest, this sounds cool, but I am trying to figure out how it will relate to the real world. Some OEM or vendor is going to have to get creative and build use cases around this. How will they use it, what are the physical limitations, like walls and weather? What is the distance it can work? Will it work outside reliably? We will have to wait and see.

Then, if the proof of concept works, what devices will adopt it? Wi-Fi is in everything from your smartphone to your laptop and maybe even in several devices around your home. Like your TV, speakers, iPods, and so on. Someday I hope LTE-U is in everything, but it’s going to take years, maybe decades, for that adoption to happen.

What about the CBRS?

OK, I usually brag about the CBRS at some point, but I really look at that as a last mile solution for the end-user. I don’t think there is enough spectrum, in the current plan, to do much for the fiber extension. However, it would work well for the IOT functions if the radio is low latency. I am just saying; this solution should be used where it is the most effective.

Why IOT? Because it does not require the bandwidth that many other users will need. Let’s separate the use cases. Broadband versus low latency. While the CBRS will be valuable in the LAA LTE solutions, it may not be that critical to fiber extensions.

Just like WiGIG, I am looking forward to seeing the CBRS be on every device, exciting!

How do we plan backhaul?

This is tricky. The carriers know that they must plan it carefully. Let’s look at what they will be looking when they plan. I made a list:

  • What will this site need off based on population and usage projections?
  • Will this site feed other sites?
  • Is fiber accessible to this site?
  • Is wireless an option? Wireless could be the backhaul or the fronthaul to another site.
  • If there are feeder sites, what is their usage projections?

OK, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Simple projections will suffice. Your team should know this is going in, but there are always surprises. So, let’s look at more questions to align with making it as future proof as we can.

  • What is the expected growth?
  • What is our budget for this site? Looking at OpEx and CapEx around the site needs.
  • How much fiber is available?
  • If wireless, do we have the height, mounting space, rental agreements? Also, what would the site acquisition fees be? Was this considered during installation?
  • Can the lease be modified to add more equipment if needed?
  • Can the fiber provider give you another strand or two if needed?

It takes some planning to get this right. I didn’t cover everything, obviously, but you get the idea. It’s enough to get you started and to allow you to talk like you know what you’re doing.

Planning is essential, but when doing a mass deployment, you may try to make everything as cookie cutter as possible. I get it, to take that much time for each site may be a problem. If this is the case, five your site acquisition team a heads up of what your intentions are. Look at the market or region you’re going in and decide of what it will take to add FWA or FTTP. Maybe you can come up with simple questions for this as well.

  • Can fiber be run overhead or is it underground only?
  • Can we get through the permitting process quickly?
  • Is there a dig once policy? If so, what is the lead time for the next dig?
  • Is there room at the site for another dish/antenna for wireless access?
  • If FWA, is there line of sight to the other location?
  • If FWA, is UE an option?

There you go, another high-level plan and checklist.

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Fixed Wireless is a Focal Point of 5G

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Fixed Wireless is a part of 5G that many carriers want to roll out quickly. They see it as a new form of revenue and a way to compete with the cable companies. The cable companies see it as a way to extend the coverage that they already have and as a stepping stone to mobility.Tower Safety for all your safety training!

Fixed wireless access, FWA, is already a solid part of the 5G deployment for a few reasons. It is in the higher spectrum, like 24GHz and 28GHz, where the carrier or cable company can set up a fixed access point and shoot it to several buildings or businesses or homes from one location. Now, it only makes sense in urban or a dense suburban area.

It is going to be part of the 5G network slicing that we have all heard about. There is a spectrum, like CBRS, mmwave, and cmwave that will make it or break it. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint already are testing this on MIMO antennas. They are counting on new income streams. The question will be, what is the ease of install to the end-user, the consumer, you and me? Do we still need someone to come out and wire up the house? I hope not! Do we need someone like the DISH TV guys to put an antenna on the roof? Hopefully not in the city. Alternatively, maybe, can we just put a unit in the window that could receive the licensed or lightly licensed signal then transmit Wi-Fi in the home? Wouldn’t that be cool? Just like the wireless modems, we used to know. Now they are on steroids giving us speeds of 50Mbps and up. That is the dream right, bad weather or good, power or no power (UPS backup) that businesses and homes have massive broadband that we can set up in under an hour, and take with us if we move.

What is Fixed Wireless?

It is a fixed wireless access point talking to a fixed wireless subscriber point. A simple data connection. It’s that simple. It’s a way to extend the fiber from a fixed point to its destination without the cost of running fiber to each location. In theory, it should be cheaper.

Think of your internet access at your home. Many of you have cable modems or fiber or DSL or satellite. Fiber would be FTTH, which you may call Verizon FIOS or AT&T U-Verse. The wired solutions are expensive for the larger companies to deploy, just ask Google who thought they could do it for less money but learned the hard way that physical attachment to poles takes more than just goodwill to the city. I talked to my friend in Nashville where the poles had rights of refusal by AT&T and the local cable companies that did NOT want Google to play in their neighborhoods. It did not matter what the 5g-deployment-plan-front-cover-3k-pixelscity said; whoever had rights to the poles had the final say!

That is where the wireless option looks attractive for many reasons. 5G technology, like cmwave, mmwave, and CBRS can help make this happen. We still need fiber, that part is crucial, but we do not need to run it to every home. There is an opportunity to build out FWA to the home using 3.5Ghz or 28GHz, all depending on the location and distance to the BTS.

By the way, this has been done before with microwave connecting buildings for telecom services. It’s not new. It is just cheaper and faster and better. We are an all-IP network now which makes the transport invisible to the network. Now we have a spectrum that we can use with better technology. We can shape the broadband rollout to improve the broadband infrastructure in a profound way. The technology has arrived.

Can we get more spectrum? It looks like the US FCC took the first steps, they have opened 28GHz (27.5–28.35GHz), 37GHz (37–38.6GHz), and 39GHz (38.6–40GHz) for this purpose. Also, 7GHz of Get the Wireless Deployment Handbook today!the unlicensed spectrum from 64–71GHz. If you remember, some of these bands were used in the past to deliver point to point, PTP, microwave for building access. Now that the equipment is changing and becoming more cost-effective, it can be used in new applications. MIMO antennas and systems are also helping the cause. Multipoint radios are becoming more and more available. Technology has come a long way!

It looks like LTE will be the foundation of the format. It could be mmwave or spectrum they have for LTE today. The carriers will tell you that this is 5G, but it has more to do with advanced LTE being able to push the limits using carrier aggregation in the current spectrum and making new spectrum multipoint. Carrier aggregation and MIMO makes larger wireless broadband realistic.

With mmwave, we have very large bands. The great news is that it could be deployed quickly. I think it will be lightly licensed because the coverage area is so small. I also think it could be the solution to getting large amounts of spectrum to building in a short time. The current systems are point to point, but they are rolling out multipoint systems. There is an article in Gigabit Wireless that helps to explain more about mmwave and the multipoint technology in that band.

1Gbps links will make it possible to run 100Mbps to multiple homes from one cell, be it a small cell or a Macro. Macros and Wi-Fi can do that now. All the carriers are promising this.

I believe that we will see a fixed wireless solution very soon. I believe that 100Mbps to the house via a wireless link is very realistic. This will be a game changer that will have a dramatic effect on our daily lives.

Have the outdoor wireless connect to something simple and effective indoors. Let the people see the signal level for the outdoor connection, like DISH used to do, and make it broadcast Wi-Fi inside and offer wired Ethernet. If we can get this, life is great. We can connect our own router or use what they give us.

Spectrum for 5G FWA

Let’s look at the 5G spectrum. I’m not sure if any of you saw it, but the 5G Americas group put together a great sheet on the 5G spectrum. I have the link so go ahead and download it.

http://www.5gamericas.org/files/9114/9324/1786/5GA_5G_Spectrum_Recommendations_2017_FINAL.pdf

Look at the new bands that the FCC is proposing to use:

  • 24 GHz bands: 24.25-24.45 GHz and 25.05-25.25 GHz
  • Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) band: 27.5-28.35 GHz, 29.1-29.25 GHz, and 31-31.3 GHz
  • 39 GHz band: 38.6-40 GHz • 37/42 GHz bands: 37.0-38.6 GHz and 42.0-42.5 GHz
  • 60 GHz bands: 57-64 GHz and 64-71 GHz (extension)
  • 70/80 GHz bands: 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz, 92-95 GHz

I don’t see this spectrum as a mobile solution, but more of a fixed solution. That could change. This is going to be a thorn in the side of the cable and ISP business model. Why? It’s a new competitor that will have the reach. They have a large customer base. They know how to steal those customers. Remember, fewer millennials are watching traditional TV, they watch on demand as most of you do. Don’t deny it, do you really sit down and watch a show at the designated time or do you watch it on Amazon or Netflix or Zulu or with your DVR?

Of course, CBRS will also be a game changer. It will allow us to do more in the rural areas. I love this spectrum because it will be open to more than just the big bad carriers who rule the spectrum. Disruptors have a chance to create something great. This may be the most valuable of all because it may not require LOS, line of sight, as shown here, http://www.telecompetitor.com/fixed-lte-in-cbrs-band-not-expected-to-require-line-of-sight-for-fixed-wireless/ for the connections to be made. This opens new doors for connectivity. It’s real and exciting! Hey don’t take my word for it, ask Google, http://www.rcrwireless.com/20161117/carriers/google-sees-cbrs-spectrum-band-key-5g-new-model-industry-tag2, and they will vouch for this.

To be fair, the 5G Americas Spectrum document that I referenced above also has a quick blurb in it about CBRS, and I quote “Other bands of interest, From the point of view of global harmonization in the 3 to 5 GHz range as the main mid-range spectrum target for 5G, interests have been expressed in use of this range for 5G in the United States. This could potentially include current CBRS band Tower Safety for all your safety training!(3.55-3.7 GHz) and beyond (e.g., up to 4.2 GHz).” The CBRS will play a large part because the carrier doesn’t want to deploy small cells everywhere, in fact, they are going to let that up to the business owners and landlords to do. They won’t admit this but I think they are looking for a neutral host solution and CBRS is a great solution! Licensed and protected and it could potentially have multiple carriers on one small cell. A multi-carrier small cell solution. If you think this is crazy, have you ever heard of Wi-Fi? Does it discriminate based on a carrier in your home? NOPE! It just connects, so this will be a stepped-up version of that where it will connect, but it may discriminate based on your carrier. Just apply the proper ID, or ESSID to connect.

Be smart, be safe, and pay attention!

See Ya!

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Fixed Wireless Access Overview

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What is Fixed Wireless? What is FWA? What is the future of fixed wireless? Will FWA replace FTTH? Will FWA replace FTTx? Will the carriers roll out FWA to compete with the cable companies? Read on to learn the answer to all of these questions!

Chances are it will take off, in fact, the major carriers are counting on it!

Is 5G mostly fixed wireless? Some of it will be, along with IOT, massive broadband, augmented reality, and surprising mobility.

Will fixed wireless replace fiber to the home? The carriers are hoping it does because of the cost effectiveness and the ease of installation.

Will fixed wireless replace cable modems? Again, the carriers are betting on this, and the cable companies know this, they know that can do something and finally enter the wireless arena, for real this time.

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Fixed wireless access, FWA, is going to be a game-changer in so many ways. It is going to be part of the 5G network slicing that we have all heard about. There is a spectrum, like CBRS, mmwave, and CMwave that will make it or break it. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint already are testing this on MIMO antennas. They are counting on a new income stream. The question will be, what is the ease of install to the end-user, the consumer, you and me? Do we still need someone to come out and wire up the house? Do we need someone like the DISH network guys to put an antenna on the roof? Alternatively, maybe, can we just put a unit in the window that could receive the licensed or lightly licensed signal then transmit Wi-Fi in the home? Wouldn’t that be cool? Just like the wireless modems we used to know only on steroids giving us speeds of over 50Mbps and up. That is the dream right, bad weather or good, power or no power (UPS backup) that businesses and homes have massive broadband with under an hour 5g-deployment-plan-front-cover-3k-pixelsof setup.

Here it is “The 5G Deployment Plan” available in PDF, Kindle, and Paperback!

What is fixed wireless? Think of your internet access at your home. Many of you have cable modems; some have fiber to the home, FTTH, which you may call Verizon FIOS or AT&T U-Verse. The wired solutions are expensive for the larger companies to deploy, just ask Google who thought they could do it for less money but learned the hard way that physical attachment to poles takes more than just goodwill to the city. I talked to my friend in Nashville where the poles had rights of refusal by AT&T and the local cable companies that did NOT want Google to play in their neighborhoods. It did not matter what the city said; whoever had rights to the poles had the last word!

That is where the wireless option looks so attractive for so many reasons and 5G technology, like cmwave, mmwave, and CBRS can help make this happen. We still need fiber, that part is crucial, but we do not need to run it to every home. There is an opportunity to build out FWA to the home using 3.5Ghz or 28GHz, all depending o the location and distance to the BTS.

By the way, this has been done before with microwave connecting buildings for telecom services; this is not new. It is just that now we have a way to get it to each business and we are an all-IP network now. This technology is available today and being done by point to point microwave as well as multipoint systems. It is just now we have a spectrum that we can use with newer and better technology. We have the opportunity to shape the broadband rollout to improve the broadband infrastructure in a profound way. The technology has arrived.

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Can we get more spectrum? It looks like the US FCC took the first steps, they have opened 28GHz (27.5–28.35GHz), 37GHz (37–38.6GHz), and 39GHz (38.6–40GHz). It is something that we can use, I hope. Also, 7GHz of the unlicensed spectrum from 64–71GHz. If you remember, some of these bands were utilized in the past to deliver point to point, PTP, microwave for building access. Now that the equipment is changing and becoming more cost-effective, it can be used in new applications. MIMO antennas and systems are also helping the cause. Technology has come a long way!

Wade@techfecta.com

I am looking forward to having fixed wireless rollout. If we can get broadband to the homes without cables or fiber running through the house, how cool would that be? If small businesses could have broadband in their stores and homes without waiting for fiber to be deployed, how great would that be? If we could only have a unit that we could put on a window facing one antenna outside and have the Wi-Fi inside, life would be grand! I think this is coming.

The carriers are pushing to get fixed wireless out to the public. They have been trying to work with several technologies. Whatever they work with it looks like LTE will be the foundation of the format. It could be mmwave or spectrum they have for LTE today. The carriers will tell you that this is 5G, but it has more to do with LTE being able to push the limits using carrier aggregation in the current spectrum and making new spectrum multipoint. Carrier aggregation makes that look realistic. I think Sprint is in a great position with all the 2.5GHz spectrum they have to pull this off quickly. If only they would spend the money to do it.

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With mmwave, we have large bands. The great news is that it could be deployed quickly. I think it will be lightly licensed because the coverage area is so small. I also believe it could be the solution to getting large amounts of spectrum to building in a short time. The current systems are a point to point, but they are rolling out multipoint systems. There is an article in Gigabit Wireless that helps to explain more about mmwave and the multipoint technology in that band.

I believe that 1Gbps links will make it possible to run 100Mbps to multiple homes from one cell, be it a small cell or a Macro. Although only a Macro can do that now, it has to improve. All the carriers are promising this.

I believe that we will see a fixed wireless solution very soon. I believe that 100Mbps to the house via a wireless link is very realistic. This will be a game changer that will have a dramatic effect on our daily lives. With my cable modem, I feel I get pretty good speed, today I tested it and got 67.3Mbps down and 11.9Mbps up. I am happy with this at home, today, which I show from Google’s internet speed test on Comcast, shown below. Way to go Comcast!

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If I get fixed wireless, will it work this well? I hope so. As you can see, it must give about 100Mbps to each home. The cable company can do this today and more. Verizon and AT&T both offer this over fiber and more. If they do it with LTE, I see TDD working better the FDD so that they can proactively balance the upload and download speeds. That is why Sprint has a prime spectrum with their 2.5GHz band. This band travels well and would work great as a fixed wireless platform.

The question now is, is it cost-effective to use FWA over other technologies? The installation and setup will determine that. That is why I say KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid! The key is to make the installation so easy that anyone can do it, as the end-user. If someone has to pay $1,000 for an installation, it may not be cost-effective. Most companies may do this for 100Mbps of service but at home people bitch over paying the cable company to come out and install their equipment for a few hundred dollars. I know I do. Especially when you are paying hundreds a month for service. Home users want value at an affordable price. However, home businesses rely on reliability, so make it very reliable. Price and reliability which will be determined by competition, which is one thing that the cable companies do not have right now. Seriously, whoever has a connection to your home is the winner, and cable modems are way faster than DSL. Will that change with FWA? Will cable be competing with the wireless carriers? Of course.

If they can make the installation simple, easier than hooking up my phone, I would be happy. I do not see why not. Have the outdoor wireless connect to something straightforward and efficient indoors. Let the people see the signal level for the outdoor connection, like DISH used to do, and make it broadcast Wi-Fi inside. Preferable Wave 2 with the ability to connect an indoor router via wired Ethernet. Then life is great!

Will this be easy for the carrier or service provider to do, not really? However, would it be easy for the cable companies to roll out, definitely yes? They have the infrastructure to make this happen. They could deploy the radios efficiently and quickly. They have the workforce and the structure to handle business and residential. If only they had the spectrum. If only the cable companies would move into the wireless realm. They would be a force to be reckoned with. They already have a huge customer base, and they have the core and the support centers. I think that cable companies are positioned well. Will they roll something out? If they can get in on the CBRS or the mmwave or the

I just heard an interview with John Legere where he explains, (I am paraphrasing) how companies are identified by their infrastructure, wireless or cable, and the end-user could care less. I agree with this. I think that people just want broadband when they need it, whether it is home or on their device or in a coffee shop. I agree with Legere when he explains how mobile is taking over and that people just want to have a great connection. He has been on fire lately because T-Mobile has had a kick ass year and he will not stop. He turned T-Mobile into a player, putting Sprint behind him and making AT&T sweat.

I want to congratulate John Legere and T-Mobile for winning a ton of 600MHz spectrum in the recent auction, great job T-Mobile for getting national coverage after all this time. He says “Little Ole T-Mobile, ” but they are not little anymore, in any way.

For more look at all the John Leger interviews listed below.

I think that he makes an excellent point. I believe that the internet providers will be listed as providers and as companies like Google will be media providers. I think that AT&T is trying to play both sides. There are going to be providers of the service and providers of the content. Who is going to win in the upcoming battle? I am not sure but we need to stop looking at cable companies and carriers for service their specific audiences, and they will start service everyone. Barriers are coming down, and the gloves will come off.

Will cable companies merge with carriers to remain competitive? Probably, look at Comcast working with Verizon and AT&T taking over DirecTV. Competition is rising. Comcast has the money to start their wireless system or take over a player like T-Mobile, but will they spend the money? They have not so far, but the playing field is changing, and Comcast sees the writing on the wall. It is time to make something great happen!

As a final note, and a way for me to bring smart cities into this. I believe that all smart cities want competition in broadband, they want the service everywhere in their cities, so the FWA will make that option a reality of the carriers build the entire city. All areas of the cities need to be served, not just the business districts or the upscale neighborhoods. I get that the carrier wants payback, but we need to blanket cities to give everyone an equal opportunity! This is making broadband the new infrastructure backbone of America and giving us all an opportunity to play. Let’s make something great happen!

Be smart, be safe, and pay attention!

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Do you know what to put in your SOW, the details needed to get paid for milestones or job completion? 

The foundations below do beautiful work, helping families in their time of need. Climbers often get seriously injured or die on the job. The foundations below support those families in their time of greatest need! 

official logo

Hubble Foundation helps the families of climbers in a time of need and beyond with financial support and counseling!

tower-family-foundation-e1447069656192

Tower Family Foundation supports the families of tower climbers at the time of crisis when a climber falls with financial assistance and more.