This research report provokes and invites further actionable thoughts and ideas to cut through the digital divide to provide true ubiquitous access to broadband services for all U.S. citizens. While advanced wireless networks have a ubiquitous impact on all facets of society and business, this report will focus on its potential impact on public safety, agriculture, healthcare, the automotive industry and general productivity in rural communities throughout the United States.
Six out of 10 Americans watch videos on their mobile phones on a daily basis, according to a new research report by iGR and commissioned by the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). With so many users downloading or streaming video and music to their wireless devices via standard cellular data service, there is mounting pressure on mobile networks to meet the growing demand for more capacity. Download the entire research report for more data and insights.
Attaching small wireless antennas and associated equipment – such as Distributed Antenna System (DAS) remote units, remote radio units and self-contained small cells – on existing poles or structures significantly improves the coverage and capacity of mobile networks. Read more in this white paper titled “Small Cells on Pole Facilities: A Primer on How Utility Poles, Street Lights and Traffic Signals Will Help Drive Next-Generation Mobile Broadband Networks.”
Demand for mobile broadband is driving the need for small-cell architecture to supplement the macrocellular layer of commercial cellular coverage in today’s 4G networks and for eventual 5G deployments. Street furniture – utility poles, bus-stop enclosures or any other street-level infrastructure that can house wireless equipment – offers highly effective tools in the mobile carriers’ toolboxes to bring their networks closer to their customers, if deployments can be done in an efficient manner.
Application of ANSI/TIA-222-G structure classes to communication tower design and analysis is frequently misapprehended. Risk categorization by building officials and jurisdictional authorities with respect to communications towers often flows directly from baselines established with ASCE-7 and IBC that are historically related to building occupancy or other factors that have little correlation to communication tower use and function. Explore this issue and other issues in “Classification Tower Structures per ANSI/TIA-222-5, IBC and ASCE-7.”
Note: Updated May 2017
Broadband is economic fuel, and wireless broadband access is an increasingly vital form of telecommunications. To ensure widespread, fair access and a competitive market environment, thoughtful regulations that promote efficient, timely deployments and encourage wireless broadband investment by the private sector are key for cities.
Planning for Mobile Broadband Connectivity at the Architectural Design Phase explains how to save time and money by including plans for cellular connectivity at the beginning stages of the design process. Building owners, tenants and the people supporting their communications IT requirements demand device connectivity throughout their buildings. Much of the cost of deploying in-building cellular coverage can be defrayed by including plans for cellular connectivity into the process early on in the design stage for new buildings or during planned renovations to an existing building. The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Innovation & Technology Council produced the report.
Overcoming the Deployment Challenges of Fronthaul and Backhaul Infrastructure outlines the requirements for fronthaul and backhaul transport solutions that are essential for the projected increases in cellular network usage, including the anticipated proliferation of equipment that will be necessary as the Internet of Things (IoT) emerges. In addition, this paper quantifies investments, justifies the time and expense associated with deployments and recommends affordable implementation strategies. The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Innovation & Technology council produced this report.
The Skills Gap in Wireless Infrastructure Training and Education: A Strategy for Improvement confronts the reality that the demand for wireless infrastructure continues to outpace the industry’s existing labor force of trained technology professionals, engineers and field technicians. This skills gap poses serious threats to the nation’s ability to expand wireless broadband coverage in urban, suburban and rural markets. Government and industry therefore must develop training and educational programs to draw workers to the industry, and to provide the advanced skills the industry needs as wireless demand grows to improve the safety and quality of deployments. The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Innovation & Technology Council produced this report.
Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) in Mid-Tier Markets explores the fundamental shift in deploying in-building wireless systems as mid-tier venues emerge as the biggest growth area for DAS deployments. As such, new and creative approaches are used to finance such projects, including using new technologies that embrace convergence to justify investment.