Key IoT/5G Trend for 2022 and Beyond: The Citizens Broadband Radio Service

 The Citizens Broadband Radio Service is set to revolutionize the fifth generation of cellular communication. Over the past 6 years, this non-commercialized portion of the radio spectrum has gained increasing interest from a variety of stakeholders who are exploring ways of harnessing it to support the rapid increase in demand for bandwidth by IoT as well as the 5G rollout.

This 3.5 GHz frequency band is incredibly accessible and understandably, will be in great demand for a wide range of applications. This guide explains what the Citizens Broadband Radio Service provides a concise digest of its scope in providing cellular connectivity for 5G and IoT.

What is the Citizens Broadband Radio Service?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in 2015, creating a 150 MHz band that would be available for shared commercial and federal use. At the time it was a significant step towards spectrum liberalization. The commission has achieved this in the 3.5 GHz band (between 3550 and 3700 MHz) by creating a three-tiered framework for authorization and access by users of the band. The adopted rules for use of the CBRS band are laid out in the FCC rules (47 CFR Part 96 - CITIZENS BROADBAND RADIO SERVICE).

Spectrum in the CBRS band is dynamically managed by a Spectrum Access System

Access to the CBRS band is controlled by a Spectrum Access System (SAS) which coordinates access to the frequency band. The SAS has a regularly maintained database that records every Citizens Broadband Radio device (CBSD) or base station. The information available includes the level of access permitted, location and channel assignments.

This is essential because CBRS frequencies are also used by the US Department of Defense for radar applications. SAS, therefore, receives and utilizes data from a military sensor network that detects transmissions from the Department of Defenses radar systems. It will then assign channels within the band according to the tiered access levels described below. Spectrum Access Systems and the specialist Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) that monitors radar must be approved by the FCC. There are multiple versions of this software available that can be used to manage CBRS band access in a similar manner to channel access management software in WiFi.

The FCC provides 3 tiers of user authorization and access to the CBRS band

Tier 1 CBRS Access

This is known as Incumbent Access and is for federal use. This tier of access must be protected against interference from the lower tiers. Applications that have incumbent access include the Fixed Satellite Service, with space to earth satellites, and some wireless broadband services which are in the process of being phased out.

Tier 2 CBRS Access

This is known as Priority Access and can only be accessed by licensed users. Priority Access Licenses (PALs) are auctioned on a county-by-county basis with up to 7 licenses made available per county. PALs cover access to 10 MHz channels that are available between 3550 and 3650 MHz and last 10 years at which point they may be renewed. A single licensee can only hold a maximum of 4 PALs/channels that can be aggregated. Licensees also have to meet key performance requirements and acknowledge that their service will be affected by the activities of Incumbent Access users. Tier 2 Access is protected against interference from Tier 3 users.

Tier 3 CBRS Access

This is known as General Authorized Access (GAA) and is a lightly licensed tier that is essentially open to all as long as the use is compliant with the Part 96 rules. Tier 3 access spans 3550 to 3700 MHz and is used by Priority Access users. GAA users must also accept interference from the upper tiers and other GAA users. without any protections.

CBRS has made the transition to becoming a new and innovative cellular service

The CBRS band has proven to be a successful model for how wider portions of the radio spectrum can be used to carry wireless data for both service providers and enterprises. CBRS is a significant contributor to mid-band 4 and 5G coverage for:

• Fixed wireless access (FWA)
• Small cell networks
• Industrial IoT (IIoT)
•  Private-LTE networks 
• Massive MIMO (mMIMO) hotspots

The CBRS band has already been used to provide LTE connectivity for the private cellular networks that are used to support mission-critical industry IoT devices. The LTE-based, “always-on” CBRS solution for business branded “OnGo”, is now in the process of being superseded by 5G operators with new ways of delivering secure higher network performance.

The CBRS model dovetails with the 5G objective of supporting a large proportion of global IoT connections through the Massive Machine Type Communications arm of 5G. CBRS is well suited to providing 5G service providers with an innovative approach to creating an adaptable, responsive and future-proof network architecture. The CBRS Alliance certifies CBRS hardware and software and supports multi-vendor interoperability in the 3.5 GHz band.

As the 2020s progress CBRS spectrum access is expected to support several exciting new markets

[A] CBRS is expected to assist 5G network operators in achieving GBPS+ performance

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), along with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), has specified performance standards for mobile network operators to meet to deliver a 5G service to end-users. Network speed is a critical component with data rates of up to 2 Gigabits per second possible with 5GNR devices. Gigabyte per second (GBPS) performance is a key feature of 5G networking and operators are testing novel ways of achieving this for large numbers of devices. Real-world speeds vary greatly because of location and the throughput of data from cell phones, as well as IoT and mobile broadband demand. With CBRS frequencies, wireless carriers can harness this additional spectrum without requiring a commercial spectrum license, either directly or via a network neutral host. The CBRS is likely to be used as part of a strategy to boost speeds by receiving offloaded mid-band cellular traffic from overloaded networks, with peer-to-peer and private networks handling the traffic in return for remuneration from the larger network operators.

[B] The CBRS band is being targeted for supporting IoT applications and sensor networks

The cellular industry has been keen to provide cellular-based wireless networking solutions and standards for supporting the massive expansion of the Internet of Things. Currently, a variety of wireless networking technologies including ZigBee, WiFi, Bluetooth and LoRa are used with varying levels of performance and accessibility. As the CBRS band is used with cellular technology and is well integrated with existing cellular infrastructure, it is expected to receive some of the throughput generated by IoT devices that need to access the internet to transfer data to the Cloud. This may be overseen by the larger network operators, or be distributed across multiple smaller CBRS PAL license holders who provide gateway access for this specific purpose.

[C] Private cellular networks can be operated via CBRS channels

The recent FCC CBRS PALs auction raised the prospect of the CBRS band being used to provide private cellular networking via CBRS small cell radio. This mid-band connectivity is suitable for supporting secure enterprise-level cellular networks for sensitive IoT applications and assets like robots used in manufacturing or healthcare.

CBRS private cellular networks are likely to become an in-demand alternative to WiFi or commercial cellular networks, especially where availability and the quality of connections is poor. Private CBRS networks can provide greater privacy and control. Small cell radio technology that is tuned to the 3.5 GHz band can be readily acquired and is easy to deploy for targeted, personalized wireless coverage.

[D] The CBRS has made room for new and alternative operators to provide cellular networking services

The PAL auctions provided a rare opportunity for entrant cellular network operators to acquire spectrum access for 5G networking. This represents a massive liberalization of the marketplace with CBRS small cell radio devices acting as gateways for privately held decentralized and HetNet cellular networking. Enterprise access is inevitable. A notable example of this is the Nova Labs (Helium) 5G network. Nova Labs has partnered with FreedomFi, a producer of gateways for private cellular networking, to set up a completely decentralized cellular network consisting of nodes that are operated by private individuals. The cellular coverage provided will be used for offloading traffic from the larger operators and supporting IoT connectivity to the internet. In return for running a gateway, Nova members are paid in a proprietary cryptocurrency known as Helium Network Token (HNT), which is currently worth about $14 per token. Nova Labs has already demonstrated success in this peer-to-peer networking model with their LoRa based network.

CBRS spectrum access relies on CBRS small cells

Small cells are radio devices that provide access to the cellular network in the 3.5 GHz band. They are compact and discrete meaning that they can be easily mounted indoors or outdoors. As the CBRS is significantly cheaper to access than the conventional licensed bands, CBRS small cells are in demand. CBRS small cells not only have low deployment costs but are often able to evade planning permission for installation due to their compactness and indoor use.

Since 2019 the CBRS Alliance and the Small Cell Forum have worked together on increasing the adoption of cellular networking solutions in the CBRS band. The adoption of CBRS small cells is increasing, with a significant market developing for CBRS small cell radios and antennas for private cellular networking. By 2022 it is expected that over a third of small cell deployments could be using the 3.5 GHz band, with small cells becoming a significant driver of network densification.

Antennas for CBRS small cells

The more disruptive and decentralized applications of CBRS will need to be able to provide robust and reliable coverage if they are to remain viable. The single most important aspect of optimizing the coverage of CBRS-band HetNets or privately owned gateways will be the choice of antenna. The FCC does not specify antenna characteristics for CBRS radio devices but CBRS rules do specify two key classes of device:

1. Class A CBRS devices: These devices are suitable for indoor use and are essential small cells or base stations. The EIRP of antennas used in or with these devices is 1 Watt (+30 dBm). Class A radios are usually used with an omnidirectional antenna with up to 2 dBi gain or directional antenna with up to 6 dBi.
2. Class B CBRS devices: These, more powerful devices are designed for outdoor use with a maximum permitted power of up to 50 Watts. These devices provide broadband cellular connectivity in commercial or industrial environments.

CBRS radios and small cells typically include a fixed internal antenna which limits the coverage that the small cell can provide. By using a high-quality external antenna for the 3.5 GHz band the coverage and service quality can be better optimized as the positioning of the antenna can be adjusted easily. With interference in this shared band being a real issue, a high gain antenna could make all the difference to maintaining the quality of service. Antenna choices for the 3.5 GHz band include:

• 3.5 GHz omnidirectional and directional antennas
• 3.5 GHz Vehicular/mobile antennas
• 3.5 GHz Internal antennas

As one of the Southwest's leading suppliers of cellular networking antennas, cables and accessories, we know that antenna selection will be critical to harnessing the advantages of small cell and shared spectrum networking in the CBRS-band. Browse our extensive inventory of cellular and mid-band 5G antennas or contact us directly by phone or email for specific requests.

CBRS Small Cell Installations and Considerations

Deploying CBRS small cells involves more than just selecting the right device. Proper installation and configuration are essential for optimal network performance. Here are some key considerations:

• Antenna Selection: As discussed earlier, choosing an appropriate antenna for the desired coverage area and application is crucial. Factors like antenna gain, directivity, and frequency range all play a role in maximizing signal strength and network efficiency.
• Compatible Antenna Connections: Equally important is ensuring a secure and reliable connection between the CBRS small cell and the chosen antenna. This often involves utilizing specialized cables and adapters that are compatible with the specific connector types on both the small cell and the antenna.

While the technical specifications of these cables and connectors (U.FL, SMA, RP-SMA, MMCX) are beyond the scope of this article, selecting the right ones is vital for seamless communication within the CBRS network.