This article was originally published in Broadband Communities.
There is a lot of buzz around 5G, and it is not just hype. The potential for 5G is unquestionable – it brings a vastly improved platform to deliver fast, scalable and reliable connectivity. But for communities still struggling to attain quality broadband services, It can seem like a pipe dream.
As internet of things (IoT) applications become pervasive, high-speed broadband will be even more critical to economic and community vitality. Economic challenges require municipal communities to develop a precise, multiyear network evolution plan with technology choices and investment decisions that take them to the future. Furthermore, as the enabling technology for IoT, 5G is essential to the growth of smart cities, which essentially rely on the IoT to operate.
Governments around the globe are encouraging investment in gigabit services, so let’s talk specifically about how fixed wireless 5G accelerates access to high-performance broadband for consumers, especially those outside high-density metropolitan areas.
Because 5G connects everyone and everything, a whole set of new applications will be created. This will allow 5G to serve as the great equalizer, allowing smaller towns to have services similar to those in bigger cities. 5G connections enable municipalities to offer more services, such as expanded health care options through telehealth, high-speed video to connect family and businesses, and innovative entertainment and educational offerings.
These technological advancements will dramatically improve the availability of health care and education options, improving the quality of life in rural areas. Because technology impacts literally every business sector, technological equality will help attract industry and support growth.
5G demands a dramatic increase in the number of towers and their density, and each tower must be fed by a multigigabit fiber pipe. Although the limits of signal strength will continue to improve, the reach of an individual tower will still be more easily measurable in hundreds rather than tens of thousands of feet for the foreseeable future. In markets such as South Korea, where there is a preponderance of fiber, the economic challenge is lessened. For those in less fiber-rich countries, such as the United States, integrity of plans grounded in solid business cases and ROI are going to play a significant role determining success.
The pace at which the technology is evolving further complicates deployment planning. 5G is not a one size fits all; many technologies are transitional, and standards are still developing.
For service providers, the task ahead requires integrity of planning, especially cost-to-revenue analysis and the ability to compare different architectures and options, guided by clear milestones and business objectives along the way. That leads to four best practices.
At this stage, remembering that network evolution is a journey as well as an opportunity is critical. Planning strategically offers an opportunity to optimize investment across an existing subscriber base and maximize return from old technologies, such as copper, during the transition to fiber.
Do not overlook the chance to maintain and grow an existing base as the best assurance of ROI on future 5G services.
Here are five critical data points that need to be modeled to plot a course:
For modeling several network evolution scenarios, an automated planning tool that enables analysis across technologies and household demographics is a necessity. The tool needs the capability to model the specifics of the signal propagation, such as strength and reach within coverage area. It should be able to fold in an existing network, including outside plant assets such as current fiber/cable/copper and its available capacity, rights of ways, poles and conduit.
Do not forget business processes, either. All too frequently, GIS and/or network inventory data is grossly inaccurate. Though seemingly mundane, a mismatch between GIS and inventory and loop qualification at a terminal level can hide significant revenue opportunity and customer experience improvement that do not require any investment to acquire. Use this opportunity to clean up the data to drive an even higher ROI and ensure the processes going forward can maintain that newly achieved integrity.
Once every scenario is identified and costed out, the rest is just basic math, mashing up the network cost analytics by household against the cost to upgrade analytics. The analysis will answer this question:
“In which markets, with which technology choices, will you get the fastest, strongest ROI?”
Prioritizing each scenario helps generate cash to fuel continued network evolution and improves customer experience as the foundation for 5G is laid.
For municipalities, the technological equality that 5G brings will not be attainable overnight. Adoption will be slow. But as costs decrease and demand from consumers for next-generation applications surges, deployments will be realized. 5G, the infrastructure for the future, with all its capabilities will be worth the wait.