“The real application is IoT and data processing at the edge,” Collier says. 5G-enabled “edge computing” will allow data from embedded sensors to be processed and used in the field—a capability that will be essential for the more widespread use of self-driving cars, for example.
“If we can analyze and act on data where it is collected, we can deliver insights and value more quickly,” Collier says.
5G Glossary
- Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data that can be sent over an Internet connection in a given amount of time. It refers to the amount of information, not the speed of the Internet.
- Broadband: A general term for high-speed Internet access. Technically, it is broadband radio frequencies that provide speeds of at least 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads, according to the FCC.
- Edge Computing: A distributed computing framework that processes data at the source, rather than in a data center or cloud server.
- Internet of Things (IoT): Interconnected “smart” devices that have both sensors and data processing capabilities.
- Internet Speed: The speed at which digital data is transferred, both download and upload. It is measured in Mbps. The current high-speed Internet standard is 25/3 Mbps download/upload.
- Latency: The amount of time (latency) that elapses between accessing and receiving Internet data or between initiating and completing an online function, measured in milliseconds.
- spectrum: Electromagnetic waves dedicated to a specific use, such as television, radio or mobile phone service, divided into frequencies or bands, some of which are crucial for 5G.
- Wifi: A technology used to connect computers and other electronic devices to each other, to networks, and to the Internet via wireless signals.
Sources: Ken’s Tech Tips, AT&T, ZDNet, Boston Consulting Group, CNet, FCC, TechTerms, Verizon, Highspeedinternet.com, Digi International
The role of the federal government
On December 7, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund allocated $9.2 billion to 180 providers to deploy high-speed broadband to 5.2 million homes and businesses across the country over the next 10 years. In Texas, 22 companies will receive approximately $362.7 million. (PDF)Texas’ allocation will be spent in 220 of the state’s 254 counties, and according to recent media reports, 85 Texas counties will each receive at least $1 million.
The FCC also recently completed the latest in a multi-year series of spectrum auctions. On Dec. 8, it auctioned off the coveted C, or mid-band spectrum, deemed the 5G “sweet spot” for optimal coverage, speed and latency. The tally released on Jan. 15 reflects the value for providers. $81 billionThat’s nearly double the previous auction record.
Houston has been a pioneer in small cell permitting in Texas, and not just because it’s the state’s largest city, but advocates have praised the city for its aggressive 5G efforts, with other cities, especially smaller ones, lagging far behind.Attachment 3).
Figure 3: Small Cell Allowances by Major Cities in Texas*
| city | Number of approved sites | Number of outstanding permits** | Number of applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 5,455 | N/A | N/A |
| Dallas | 1,948 | 248 | 6 |
| San Antonio | 1,760 | 89 | 5 |
| Austin | 717 | 128 | 3 |
| Fort Worth | 513 | 102 | 3 |
| El Paso | 166 | 31 | 3 |
| Eucharistic Altar | 90 | 71 | 2 |
| Brownsville | 48 | N/A | 7 |
| Midland | 16 | N/A | N/A |
| Laredo | 6 | 14 | 1 |
| Amarillo | 1 | 27 | 2 |
*As of November/December 2020.
**Pending review by City staff, revision by carrier, or both.
Source: Interviews with city officials
Amandus Mandy Darr, director of government relations at Crown Castle, a communications infrastructure company, credits a 2017 state law (Senate Bill 1004) with streamlining and harmonizing local government procedures governing 5G, noting that Houston and Dallas have moved quickly to adapt to the new technology.
Will 5G be everywhere?
Dawson said 5G is primarily an urban technology because it relies on a dense network of small cells, and that Texas is well positioned to take advantage of 5G because of its many metropolitan areas. But the state’s vast rural areas pose a much bigger challenge.
“implementation [of 5G] “It’s not economically feasible everywhere, so it’s not widespread access,” said Jennifer Harris, state program director for Connected Nation Texas.
And access doesn’t necessarily mean adoption: Harris said 30% of Texans who live in areas where broadband is already available don’t sign up, mainly because of the cost.
Given the geographic diversity and size of Texas, Harris said logistics will play a “huge” role in getting everyone online. “Different parts of the state will require different technology approaches,” she said.
Derr believes rural residents can be best served through a combination of government funding and private partnerships with local wireless communication service providers.
This is the kind of problem that state broadband offices are designed to address: Texas is one of six states without such an office, but that could change soon (see “Texas Broadband Expansion,” in this issue).
5G in Industry
Alok Shah, an executive at Samsung Electronics America, believes 5G could be even more important to the industrial sector than the consumer sector, especially as coverage expands and latency decreases.
“5G is not one size fits all,” Shah said in a recent podcast. Broadband Breakfast Live Online Shah said Samsung’s Austin semiconductor factory has already benefited from 5G-related technologies. The Ethernet cables used to connect much of the factory’s equipment have been replaced with mobile high-speed connections, Shah said. 5G has also given workers real-time chat capabilities, allowing for timely information provision for troubleshooting.
Other current examples of commercial 5G/IoT applications include remote patient monitoring and diagnostic data collection (Rimidi), using drones for wildfire suppression and emergency management (Austin-based DroneSense), and even improving pig farm efficiency (SwineTech).
Coming soon…or not?
Despite the sense of inevitability, some industry watchers aren’t convinced the 5G revolution will be complete anytime soon. In the short term, wireless carriers may take advantage of additional spectrum opened up by the federal government and call it 5G, whether or not their small cell networks are fully operational.
“In 2021, 5G will remain 4G delivered on new spectrum,” Dawson predicts. He points out that he doesn’t expect 5G to mature in the near future, as all of 4G’s benefits were not available until 2019, 10 years after its introduction. Moreover, some technology observers warn that the arrival of full-scale 5G is not a foregone conclusion. They stress the need to build public-private partnerships, pursue mutual interests of stakeholders, and forge broad cooperation.
“If we don’t collaborate within and across sectors, we’re missing out on real opportunities,” Collier said. translation
To learn more about 5G technology, visit the Texas 5G Alliance See how the West Texas community of Monahans is laying the foundation for high-speed internet.
