FCC Should Boost 5G Backhaul by Updating Rules in 70/80/90 GHz Bands

American success in the race to 5G depends on a strong supply of backhaul for transmitting ever-increasing volumes of mobile and fixed wireless data. To help enhance wireless backhaul capacity, the Commission should modernize its antenna rules so that small cells can provide backhaul in the 70/80/90 GHz spectrum bands. 

Backhaul connections route voice and data traffic from mobile and fixed wireless providers' cell sites to mobile switching centers that link to the providers' core networks, the public switched telephone network, and the Internet. Wireless spectrum provides a vitally important transmission medium for backhaul. In its Sixteenth Wireless Competition Report (2013), the FCC recognized that "[m]obile backhaul needs will keep increasing as wireless carriers continue to deploy LTE technology in their networks." This was undoubtedly true as mobile networks transitioned to 4G, and it remains equally true now that 5G networks are being deployed. According to Cisco's 2021 Annual Internet Report, there will be 299 million mobile wireless users in the U.S. in 2023, up from 285.3 million in 2018, and there will be 3.4 connected mobile devices per capita in 2023 compared to 1.7 devices in 2018. Additional backhaul capacity is needed to help support data traffic increases resulting from anticipated future demand, including continuing growth in wireless viewing of HD and even 4K video.

But the Commission's old antenna rules were not established with small cells in mind. Technical changes made to those rules back in 2005 long predate 5G technological advances. In its June 2020 rulemaking notice, the Commission stated that the 70/80/90 GHz millimeter wave bands have been underutilized. Recognizing these facts, the Commission proposed to update its antenna rules for the 70/80 GHz band, and it sought comment on whether to make similar updates to its rules for the 90 GHz band. 

 

Modernization of the Commission's antenna rules requires harmonization between federal and non-federal users of the 70/80/90 GHz bands. Fortunately, there appears to be an industry consensus that antenna rule updates to accommodate small cells won't interfere with other uses of that spectrum. A prime opportunity now exists to boost 5G backhaul in those bands, and that opportunity needs to be seized without delay.

 

A February 2021 report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) estimates that 5G infrastructure buildout will directly contribute $400-500 billion to U.S. GDP and create up to 1 million jobs over the next ten years. But BCG also estimates nationwide losses of $25 billion in potential benefits for every 6-month stall in 5G deployment. Given the importance of backhaul to next-generation wireless networks as well as the sizable economic benefits to Americans resulting from timely deployment of 5G, the Commission should take prompt action to update its rules for the 70/80/90 GHz bands.