WASHINGTON, March 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- CTIA released the results of a new Accenture (NYSE: ACN)
analysis today that shows modernizing federal reviews of new
wireless infrastructure - like the reforms currently proposed by
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - could significantly
lower the cost to deploy 5G networks by $1.6
billion over 9 years.
The FCC is due to vote on exempting small cell installations
from certain federal reviews on March
22. The CTIA-commissioned analysis by Accenture Strategy
found that when such reviews are required, almost a third of the
cost of next-generation wireless deployments go to federal
regulatory reviews that the FCC now proposes to eliminate as
unnecessary. These reviews cost industry $36
million in 2017, and are expected to increase over six-fold
in 2018.
"These findings validate Commissioner Carr's call to action and
the FCC's proposal to modernize outdated federal rules that have
not kept pace with new technology. To win the global race to 5G, we
need to accelerate small cell installations and reduce the costs of
deployment," said Meredith Attwell
Baker, CTIA President and CEO. "The FCC's common sense
proposal will cut the cost of rolling out tomorrow's wireless
networks by over a billion dollars and speed their availability to
communities across America."
To keep up with increasing demand for wireless data and build
out 5G networks, the wireless industry needs to deploy hundreds of
thousands of modern wireless antennas - small cells - in the next
few years. Small cell deployments will escalate rapidly from
roughly 13,000 deployed in 2017 to over 800,000 cumulatively
deployed by 2026, according to the analysis.
Small cells are similar in size to a pizza box and can be
deployed on streetlights or utility poles in about one hour.
However, under rules that were designed decades ago for 200-foot
cell towers, getting necessary federal and local permissions can
take over a year and require multiple, duplicative reviews
including federal environmental and historic preservation
reviews.
The FCC's new rules would modernize the historic and
environmental regulatory requirements for wireless deployments,
exclude small cells from certain federal regulatory hurdles, and
adopt a "shot clock" for FCC review of environmental assessments
when required. The analysis found that the U.S. will see a 550%
increase in small cells year over year in 2018, underscoring the
need for FCC action now to jumpstart more broadband
investment.
Wireless carriers are conducting 5G tests across the U.S. and
planning early availability for consumers by the end of this year.
5G will be up to 100 times faster than current 4G networks and be
able to handle 100 times the number of connected devices, enabling
IoT and smart cities.
Prior research by Accenture Strategy from 2017 estimated that
the U.S. wireless industry will invest as much as $275 billion nationwide to deploy 5G, providing a
$500 billion boost to the economy and
creating three million new jobs.
CTIA has produced a new video to show how quickly and
unobtrusively a small cell can be installed on a suburban street if
the FCC updates its rules.
About the Research
This research was commissioned by CTIA. Accenture gathered input
from a survey of carriers representing the wireless industry on
spend related to federally-mandated historic and environmental
reviews and other key data points to understand, estimate and
project future spend. This input, together with publicly available
research sources and Accenture analysis, was used to extrapolate
future impact out to 2026.
About CTIA
CTIA® (www.ctia.org) represents the U.S. wireless communications
industry and the companies throughout the mobile ecosystem that
enable Americans to lead a 21st century connected life. The
association's members include wireless carriers, device
manufacturers, suppliers as well as apps and content companies.
CTIA vigorously advocates at all levels of government for policies
that foster continued wireless innovation and investment. The
association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best
practices, hosts educational events that promote the wireless
industry and co-produces the industry's leading wireless tradeshow.
CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.
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SOURCE CTIA