This week on HetNet Happenings, RCR Wireless News Managing Editor Sean Kinney discusses network densification with former FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, the current president of PCIA, the Wireless Infrastructure Association.
The pair, joined by RCR Wireless News CEO and Editorial Director Jeff Mucci, discuss challenges to network densification, including lack of fiber availability, along with how service providers need to adapt business models associated with small cell ROI.
Kinney also talks with 5G researcher Jeff Andrews of the University of Texas-Austin’s Wireless Network and Communications Group about how network densification will fit into an ultimate 5G mobile standard.
“Densification, in principle, can work with any technology. it’s really what has been carrying the freight for us for the past 20 years in terms of capacity,” Andrews said. “This is kind of a brute force approach. There’s a lot of ingredients to making densification work. It’s not like you just throw tons of infrastructure out there and it just works.”
Adelstein focused in on the business model.
“Some of the challenges we’re seeing, of course, are making sure that the business model works: what expectations are from carriers in terms of the price they’re going to pay versus the actual cost on the ground, I don’t think have quite met up yet.”
He also discussed some of the work PCIA has done to remove hindrances associated with access to rights-of-way, including attendant federal review standards.
Adelstein also discussed the costs of running power, backhaul and fiber to metro sites.
Stuck in traffic or video blocked at work? Check out the HetHet Happenings podcast:
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And for previous episodes of HetNet Happenings and other RCRtv productions, check out the RCRtv website.
