In 2015, the FCC voted to open the 3.5 GHz spectrum band, known as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), for both licensed and unlicensed use. Ever since, CBRS has facilitated innovation and been a powerful tool in delivering clever connectivity solutions. By opening the band to shared use, regulators have been able to virtually “expand the pie” of available spectrum as the wireless ecosystem faces a spectrum crunch.
CBRS is a designated spectrum band open for shared use, allowing it to power private networks in military warehouses, stadiums, campuses, airports, and more. It does this while protecting important users already operating in the band, which always get signal priority should the incumbent user, often the Department of Defense (DoD), be using the band nearby.
TSMC brings critical semiconductor operations to Arizona
When Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) opened its first plant in Arizona, it knew the operation would scale to supply the world with the most advanced chips on the planet. And that task would require a massive campus and workforce.
To kick off the first wave of production, TSMC offered housing to its workforce.
The chip manufacturer wanted to offer Taiwanese employees fully integrated smart homes to stay in while training new workers at the Arizona plant.
- The digitally enabled homes span an apartment complex, meaning they required a connectivity solution that could more easily cover a wide area across several buildings.
The CBRS solution
To deliver fast, reliable, expansive, and secure broadband to residents, the property turned to CBRS.
- CBRS offers a highly secure network, a critical element for residents working on high-sensitivity projects such as bringing advanced chip manufacturing to the US.
- Additionally, the band is well suited to support reliable core smart home functions, like smart locks, thermostats, lights, and more.
All of these benefits are delivered thanks to CBRS’s shared use model, which continues to prove its value and utility time and time again. As the United States faces a spectrum crunch, shared solutions like CBRS offer a way to virtually expand the amount of spectrum available to an otherwise fixed, limited resource.
Visit NCTA.com to learn more about the critical role of thoughtful spectrum policy in broadband, especially Wi-Fi.
