CBRS

CBRS, operating in Band 48, also known today as Private LTE or Private 4G, was introduced in 2015 by the FCC as a means to provide for high-bandwidth spectrum for shared commercial use. Previously reserved for US Government use, the Innovation Band is organized into three distinct access tiers.

The CBRS Ecosystem

Since Band 48 has been open for almost five years, the CBRS device and technology vendor ecosystem that is required for adoption at scale has been coming up to speed to support this exciting technology. Many of the Radio Access Network (RAN) vendors such as JMA, Ericsson, Commscope and others have the technology to create a network, both in-building (mostly similar to an in-building Distributed Antenna System) and outdoor for both Macro and Micro deployments. Additionally, much of the chipsets required to enable native connection to CBRS networks are also being enabled by the respective chipset vendors. This will enable seamless interoperability with CBRS networks for educational and IoT use cases, as well as advanced services such as roaming and Neutral Host, without the need for network adapters or gateways. Dual SIM and/or Dual Standby devices will become prevalent in 2020 and beyond. What this will facilitate are advanced use cases such as:

• LTE and 5G NR indoor and outdoor coverage on enterprise buildings and campus
• Reliable and high QoS network for mission critical needs - that Point of Sale device, that asset tracking system or next generation communications services with video, chat and enhanced messaging
• Seamless experience for end users between public and private networks
• High-security, low-latency enterprise networks that support native IP network connections to the rest of the enterprise IT infrastructure.

How can the Innovation Band be unleashed to help your business or school system?

Let’s look at a few use cases:

Education: in the traditional learning environment, K-12 and Higher education connectivity needs for in-building wireless must be secure and highly available to protect and educate our children. Additionally, CBRS can be operated on a macro basis as an outdoor Private LTE network, providing advanced, secure technology to close the Digital Divide in underserved or rural communities. Effectively, this provides a dedicated wireless broadband access for students and educators. As a successful DAS integrator for over 20 years, working in the K12 space, WIN Connectivity can Design, Build and Operate a CBRS system through our Connectivity-as-a-Service (CaaS), enabling rapid adoption of this brilliant technology, at a significantly reduced cost and rapid ROI.

Hospitality: Providing a seamless experience for guests is at the forefront of in building wireless needs for the Hospitality industry. CBRS can be utilized to extend broadband to rooms and common areas without the need for emplacing vast quantities of fiber in the facility. Additionally, responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the needs for Hospitality to adopt such concepts as contactless check-ins and room entry, Smart Building controls and contact tracing capabilities. Intelligent CBRS networks can provide this with seamless cellular coverage; whether at digital check in, room access, or enjoying any of the facilities’ amenities. Private LTE over a DAS can be monitored and maintained to ensure all guests have disruption free in-building wireless internet service. Compare that to the commercial mobile operator network, which may have poor coverage or no coverage throughout the building.

Commercial Real Estate: while many CRE operators and management firms have experience with a Distributed Antenna System using commercial mobile network signal source, CBRS is complementary network overlay that provides Security and Resiliency by Design. CBRS, or Private LTE, enables critical Building Management System data and telemetry, and supports innovative use cases such as Smart Buildings, Massive IoT and Critical IoT to property owners and managers. Whether it is maximizing building automation systems, operating cloud-native video surveillance systems, improving visitor experience, or contact tracing, a Private LTE network using CBRS helps set your building apart as more and more workers start to come back to work. CBRS can facilitate systems that provide safety and security to your tenants.

Healthcare: Healthcare systems can significantly benefit from a CBRS-based Private LTE deployment. Healthcare providers can realize an immense technology enablement for high-bandwidth, low-latency applications such as telemedicine, Medical IoT secure network segmentation, AI-driven clinical tools and processes, expanded use of autonomous delivery systems for supply replenishment and non-ambulatory patient motion through a hospital facility.

Manufacturing: Industrial IoT is changing the way manufacturers conduct their operations. Automation, optimization, and big data are shaping decisions in new ways. Having access to that critical data and predictive analytics is more valuable than ever before. CBRS and Private LTE network infrastructure enable the harvesting of the key data points to drive the right decisions.

Oil & Gas: CBRS networks are uniquely positioned to provide secure, long-range coverage over available shared spectrum. Having the infrastructure to ensure worker safety is just one aspect of such a Private LTE network. Advances in the devices used throughout the industry need a secure network to operate seamlessly. Automation, big data, and device to device communications would all benefit by partnering with the right DAS integrator.

Utilities: A smart utility grid would benefit greatly from a CBRS-enabled Private LTE network that supports effective, secure and reliable communications for data acquisition. Partnering with the right DAS integrator is the key. Critical data points which lead to operational efficiencies can maximize the utilities’ resources. In addition, considerations such as security networks can be managed on a separate system that is more secure than traditional networks.

Transportation: Modern distribution networks and transportation hubs are becoming more automated. CBRS-enabled Private LTE networks provides a means to capitalize through gathered data. Hub automation, fleet management, and intelligent planning are just a few of the reasons to implement a smart cellular infrastructure. Relying on the right DAS integrator can make the difference in a successful deployment and implementation.

Retail: Consumers today utilize available information through smart devices to make informed purchases. What if you had a smart network that could capitalize on the data from your potential buyers? Could contact tracing and notifications help keep potential health risks away from your business? CBRS and Private LTE networks provide a method to capitalize on critical information. Whether it is consumer purchasing trends, traffic heat maps, a secure PCI network environment that supports roaming for venues, or other critical data points, a private secure network can facilitate this information flow. Partner with the right DAS Integrator to help design and implement the network that’s right for your application.

Do you want to learn more about Distributed Antenna Systems? Do you want to talk with us about getting your own DAS for your building? Call WIN Connectivity today at 630.325.6254 to get started.

Why Partner with WIN Connectivity?

As we envision more and more use cases that can be addressed by this burgeoning technology, it is important to understand that planning, installing, operating and maintaining all of the network components can be complex and is significantly different than the standard land-based of Wi-Fi IT system deployment. CBRS is different than other longer-range wireless solutions (LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi, etc) in a number of ways: