Dual-mode solution can support multiple operators, but not until mobile devices support CBRS
As the debate intensifies over whether and how carriers should implement LTE in the 5 GHz spectrum band, a leading developer of indoor small cells is launching a less-contentious solution. SpiderCloud Wireless has developed dual-mode small cells that can simultaneously operate in a licensed LTE band and in the 3.5 GHz citizens band radio service band.
SpiderCloud said it saw citizens band radio service as a “quietly brilliant” alternative to LTE in the 5 GHz band. Last year the Federal Communications Commission voted to allow commercial use of spectrum in the 3550-3700 MHz bands, used for CBRS. Not long after that, Federated Wireless introduced a cloud-based solution to manage shared use of the 3.5 GHz spectrum, which is available to carriers, consumers and the federal government. SpiderCloud has completed interoperability testing with the Federated Wireless system.
Unlike the 5 GHz band, the 3.5 GHz band is not widely used for Wi-Fi. So the makers of Wi-Fi equipment are much less likely to raise concerns about interference from LTE deployed in the 3.5 GHz band. End users, who are also concerned about LTE in the 5 GHz band, may be more comfortable with LTE in 3.5 GHz.
“The people [who] control the office buildings will have a say in whether or not 5 GHz LTE solutions get deployed in their structures, so CBRS provides an alternative,” said SpiderCloud’s director of enterprise, Art King. SpiderCloud said the dual-mode small cells can be used in the 3.5 GHz band to support a single operator network or a private enterprise network. The company said the 3.5 GHz network could also be shared by multiple operators.
“The neutral host guys are particularly interested because they see a way to light up CBRS and connect back to multiple mobile cores,” said King. He would like to see neutral host providers like American Tower, ExteNet Systems and Mobilitie deploy small cell networks for carriers using licensed LTE, and then add other carriers in the CBRS band in the future. Right now, these companies do not deploy many indoor small cell networks because they do not have a way to add a second carrier to the network. This limits the return on investment.
King said enterprises are asking service providers for cellular connectivity solutions that are not limited to one operator. He said CBRS will eventually provide that, but not yet. Right now, most U.S. smartphones do not ship with CBRS modems. King said that no matter how badly enterprises may want CBRS, they do not have the power to influence smartphone manufacturers.
“Apple and Samsung would not respond to a fragmented enterprise market for a particular type of radio,” said King. “We believe that using LTE in licensed [spectrum] plus LTE in CBRS is a key driver to get the operator community on board.” If mobile operators start pushing devicemakers for CBRS modems, the ecosystem could start to develop.
The biggest maker of LTE modems is already on board. Qualcomm, which developed chips to enable LTE in the 5 GHz spectrum, also is supporting CBRS with its FSM chipset. The company said that deploying LTE in shared 3.5 GHz spectrum along with licensed spectrum will be key to improving connectivity for enterprises.
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