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Will the US be 5G ready?

Commissioner Brendan Carr of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently spoke at Brookings on why the U.S. needs to ramp up its efforts to deploy fifth-generation, or 5G, networks. With expected peak download speeds as high as 20 gigabits per second, 5G networks can download a full-length high-definition movie in seconds. It also has lower latency and greater connectivity to enable specialized tasks and functions, including remote precision medicine, connected cars, and augmented reality. 5G will also enable better end-to-end machine connections, which will drive the burgeoning economy of the “internet of things” (IoT) and related applications.

However, China and South Korea are poised to outpace the U.S. in 5G deployment, according to a recently commissioned study by CTIA.  China, who ranks first in the study’s 5G readiness index, is already eliminating regulatory red tape to expedite deployment and make it easier for industry to access large blocks of higher frequency spectrum bands, which are the airwaves that will enable these next-generation wireless networks. As part of a five-year plan to deploy 5G by 2020, China’s advanced wireless networks are projected to reach 428 million people by 2025, add more than RMB 6.3 trillion into their economy, and create more than eight million jobs. A 5G-ready China will not only be a global leader in product delivery, but also in technical patents, usability testing, and industry certifications.

While the U.S. is rightly no longer considering a similar government-led model, our 5G deployment process is slowed by outdated regulatory processes, spectrum scarcity, and local bureaucracy related to building local towers and other infrastructure. The U.S. faces unique challenges associated with the deployment of small cells, which are antennae the size of a pizza box that enable 5G’s signal strength and resiliency. Deployment delays also result from approval times on small cell applications, permitting, and zoning processes at the local level.

So what will it take for the U.S. to be 5G ready, and why is it important for us to beat global competitors who are on an accelerated schedule to roll out this emerging technology?

The U.S. needs a “5G game plan”

















Christoph Mergerson contributed research to this blog post.

CTIA is a donor to the Brookings Institution. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions posted in this piece are solely those of the authors and not influenced by any donation.

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