In 2015 the FCC voted to open the 3.5 GHz 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, which allows it to power private networks in places like warehouses, stadiums, campuses, and airports. It does this while protecting important users already operating in the band, like the U.S. Navy, which always gets signal priority should there be any other users using the band nearby.
One of the many examples of how CBRS powers solutions for unique connectivity issues can be found at Miami International Airport (MIA). At MIA, the band has been used to deliver more reliable connectivity for visitors while also powering a robust Internet of Things network to keep the airport running smoothly.
The problem
Miami airport faced a number of challenges given its unique and extensive network needs.
- MIA contains six different concourses across its approximately five square miles.
- Those concourses house 131 gates that serve over 90 different carriers from all over the world.
- The layout creates connectivity gaps, high-traffic congestion areas, and varying signal strength, all of which reduce the customer experience.
- MIA is the second busiest U.S. airport for international travelers, just behind JFK.
- International visitors often rely more heavily on Wi-Fi since many opt not to pay for temporary international data plans during vacations.
- Like many other airports, the size, shape, and demands of both enterprise and personal connectivity create significant challenges in a network deployment.
The CBRS solution
MIA looked to non-traditional network solutions like CBRS to solve this unique set of challenges. The band has allowed the airport to deploy a powerful private wireless network with enough capacity and coverage to connect crowds of visitors and facilitate airport operations.
- CBRS networks are easy to deploy, which is extra valuable in a complex, fine-tuned environment like an airport.
- CBRS deployments are also easy to scale, allowing for the network to expand as the airport grows and changes.
Thanks to their new CBRS-powered network, MIA now boasts a number of cutting-edge features.
- The airport provides travelers with real-time updates on gate changes, time changes, and other important travel information.
- Their robust IoT can automatically notify crews when an elevator or escalator malfunctions or when a soap dispenser needs to be refilled.
- CBRS-powered sensors also count the number of passengers traveling on the airport’s SkyTrain, giving valuable insight into potential passenger bottlenecks or crowd control.
CBRS has allowed MIA to improve customer experience both for connectivity and airport operations, as well as reducing operational costs. 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 important role thoughtful spectrum policy plays in broadband, especially Wi-Fi.
