SNS Telecom & IT

SNS Telecom & IT: Q1-2024 Public safety LTE/5G report: review of engagements across 86 countries, case studies, spectrum allocation and more

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Alan Weissberger

SNS Telecom & IT’s Q1-2024 Public safety LTE/5G report is a significant update from previous versions. The “Public Safety LTE & 5G Market: 2023 – 2030” report features a database of over 1,300 global public safety LTE/5G engagements – as of Q1’2024, in addition to detailed market analysis and forecasts for public safety broadband infrastructure, devices, applications and connectivity services.

Along with other unique content, the report covers a comprehensive review of public safety LTE/5G engagements across 86 countries, detailed case studies of 18 nationwide public safety broadband projects and additional case studies of 50 dedicated, hybrid, secure MVNO/MOCN and commercial operator-supplied systems, public safety spectrum allocation and usage, 3GPP standardization and commercial availability of critical communications-related features, analysis of public safety broadband application scenarios, practical examples of 5G era use cases, ongoing deployments of 3GPP standards-compliant MCX services and interworking functionality for LMR-broadband interoperability, recent advances in 5G NR sidelink-based device-to-device communications capabilities and other trends such as the emergence of portable 5G networks and 5G network slicing services (which require a 5G SA core network) for first responder agencies.

Report Summary:

With the commercial availability of 3GPP-specification compliant MCX (Mission-Critical PTT, Video & Data), HPUE (High-Power User Equipment), IOPS (Isolated Operation for Public Safety) and other critical communications features, LTE and 5G NR (New Radio) networks are increasingly gaining recognition as an all-inclusive public safety communications platform for the delivery of real-time video, high-resolution imagery, multimedia messaging, mobile office/field data applications, location services and mapping, situational awareness, unmanned asset control and other broadband capabilities, as well as MCPTT (Mission-Critical PTT) voice and narrowband data services provided by traditional LMR (Land Mobile Radio) systems. Through ongoing refinements of additional standards – specifically 5G MBS/5MBS (5G Multicast-Broadcast Services), 5G NR sidelink for off-network D2D (Device-to-Device) communications, NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) integration, and support for lower 5G NR bandwidths – 3GPP networks are eventually expected to be in a position to fully replace legacy LMR systems by the late 2020s. National public safety communications authorities in multiple countries have already expressed a willingness to complete their planned narrowband to broadband transitions within the second half of the 2020 decade.

A myriad of fully dedicated, hybrid government-commercial and secure MVNO/MOCN-based public safety LTE and 5G-ready networks are operational or in the process of being rolled out throughout the globe. The high-profile FirstNet (First Responder Network) and South Korea’s Safe-Net (National Disaster Safety Communications Network) nationwide public safety broadband networks have been successfully implemented. Although Britain’s ESN (Emergency Services Network) project has been hampered by a series of delays, many other national-level programs have made considerable headway in moving from field trials to wider scale deployments – most notably, New Zealand’s NGCC (Next-Generation Critical Communications) public safety network, France’s RRF (Radio Network of the Future), Italy’s public safety LTE service, Spain’s SIRDEE mission-critical broadband network, Finland’s VIRVE 2.0 broadband service, Sweden’s Rakel G2 secure broadband system and Hungary’s EDR 2.0/3.0 broadband network. Nationwide initiatives in the pre-operational phase include but are not limited to Switzerland’s MSK (Secure Mobile Broadband Communications) system, Norway’s Nytt Nødnett, Germany’s planned hybrid broadband network for BOS (German Public Safety Organizations), Netherlands’ NOOVA (National Public Order & Security Architecture) program, Japan’s PS-LTE (Public Safety LTE) project, Australia’s PSMB (Public Safety Mobile Broadband) program and Canada’s national PSBN (Public Safety Broadband Network) initiative.

Other operational and planned deployments range from the Halton-Peel region PSBN in Canada’s Ontario province, New South Wales’ state-based PSMB solution, China’s city and district-wide Band 45 (1.4 GHz) LTE networks for police forces, Hong Kong’s 700 MHz mission-critical broadband network, Royal Thai Police’s Band 26 (800 MHz) LTE network, Qatar MOI (Ministry of Interior), ROP (Royal Oman Police), Abu Dhabi Police and Nedaa’s mission-critical LTE networks in the oil-rich GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region, Brazil’s state-wide LTE networks for both civil and military police agencies, Barbados’ Band 14 (700 MHz) LTE-based connectivity service platform, Zambia’s 400 MHz broadband trunking system and Mauritania’s public safety LTE network for urban security in Nouakchott to local and regional-level private LTE networks for first responders in markets as diverse as Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritius, Canary Islands, Spain, Turkey, Serbia, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Trinidad & Tobago, as well as multi-domain critical communications broadband networks such as MRC’s (Mobile Radio Center) LTE-based advanced MCA digital radio system in Japan, and secure MVNO platforms in Mexico, Belgium, Netherlands, Slovenia, Estonia and several other countries.

Even though critical public safety-related 5G NR capabilities defined in the 3GPP’s Release 17 and 18 specifications are yet to be commercialized, public safety agencies have already begun experimenting with 5G for applications that can benefit from the technology’s high-bandwidth and low-latency characteristics. For example, the Lishui Municipal Emergency Management Bureau is using private 5G slicing over China Mobile’s network, portable cell sites and rapidly deployable communications vehicles as part of a disaster management and visualization system.

In neighboring Taiwan, the Kaohsiung City Police Department relies on end-to-end network slicing over a standalone 5G network to support license plate recognition and other use cases requiring the real-time transmission of high-resolution images. The Hsinchu City Fire Department’s emergency response vehicle can be rapidly deployed to disaster zones to establish high-bandwidth, low-latency emergency communications using a satellite-backhauled private 5G network based on Open RAN standards. The Norwegian Air Ambulance is adopting a similar private 5G-based NOW (Network-on-Wheels) system for enhancing situational awareness during search and rescue operations.

In addition, first responder agencies in Germany, Japan and several other markets are beginning to utilize mid-band and mmWave (Millimeter Wave) spectrum available for local area licensing to deploy portable and small-scale 5G NPNs (Non-Public Networks) to support applications such as UHD (Ultra-High Definition) video surveillance, control of unmanned firefighting vehicles, reconnaissance robots and drones. In the near future, we also expect to see rollouts of localized 5G NR systems – including direct mode communications – for incident scene management and related use cases, potentially using up to 50 MHz of Band n79 spectrum in the 4.9 GHz frequency range (4,940-4,990 MHz), which has been designated for public safety use in multiple countries including but not limited to the United States, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Qatar.

SNS Telecom & IT estimates that annual investments in public safety LTE/5G infrastructure and devices reached $4.3 Billion in 2023, driven by both new projects and the expansion of existing dedicated, hybrid government-commercial and secure MVNO/MOCN networks. Complemented by an expanding ecosystem of public safety-grade LTE/5G devices, the market will further grow at a CAGR of approximately 10% over the next three years, eventually accounting for more than $5.7 Billion by the end of 2026. Despite the positive outlook, some significant challenges continue to plague the market. The most noticeable pain point is the lack of a D2D communications capability.

The ProSe (Proximity Services) chipset ecosystem failed to materialize in the LTE era due to limited support from chipmakers and terminal OEMs. However, the 5G NR sidelink interface offers a clean slate opportunity to introduce direct mode D2D communications for public safety broadband users, as well as coverage expansion in both on-network and off-network scenarios using UE-to-network and UE-to-UE relays respectively. Recent demonstrations of 5G NR sidelink-enabled MCX services by the likes of Qualcomm have generated renewed confidence in 3GPP technology for direct mode communications.

Until recently, another barrier impeding the market was the non-availability of cost-optimized RAN equipment and terminals that support operation in spectrum reserved for PPDR (Public Protection & Disaster Relief) communications – most notably Band 68 (698-703 / 753-758 MHz), which has been allocated for PPDR broadband systems in several national markets across Europe, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Other countries such as Greece, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and Belgium are also expected to make this assignment. Since the beginning of 2023, multiple suppliers – including Ericsson, Nokia, Teltronic and CROSSCALL – have introduced support for Band 68.

The “Public Safety LTE & 5G Market: 2023 – 2030 – Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts” report presents an in-depth assessment of the public safety LTE and 5G market, including the value chain, market drivers, barriers to uptake, enabling technologies, operational models, application scenarios, key trends, future roadmap, standardization, spectrum availability/allocation, regulatory landscape, case studies, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents global and regional market size forecasts from 2023 to 2030, covering public safety LTE/5G infrastructure, terminal equipment, applications, systems integration and management solutions, as well as subscriptions and service revenue.

The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report, as well as a list and associated details of over 1,300 global public safety LTE/5G engagements – as of Q1’2024.

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References:

https://www.snstelecom.com/public-safety-lte

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SNS Telecom & IT: CBRS Network Infrastructure a $1.5 Billion Market Opportunity

Posted on September 24, 2023 by Alan Weissberger

SNS Telecom & IT‘s latest research report indicates that annual spending on LTE and 5G NR-based CBRS network infrastructure – which includes RAN (Radio Access Network), mobile core and transport network equipment – will account for more than $1.5 Billion by the end of 2026.

After many years of regulatory, standardization and technical implementation activities, the United States’ dynamic, three-tiered, hierarchical framework to coordinate shared use of 150 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) band has finally become a commercial success. Although the shared spectrum arrangement is access technology neutral, the 3GPP cellular wireless ecosystem is at the forefront of CBRS adoption, with more than half of all active CBSDs (Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices) based on LTE and 5G NR air interface technologies.

LTE-based CBRS network deployments have gained considerable momentum in recent years and encompass hundreds of thousands of cell sites – operating in both GAA (General Authorized Access) and PAL (Priority Access License) spectrum tiers – to support use cases as diverse as mobile network densification, FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) in rural communities, MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) offload, neutral host small cells for in-building coverage enhancement, and private cellular networks in support of IIoT (Industrial IoT), enterprise connectivity, distance learning and smart city initiatives.

Commercial rollouts of 5G NR network equipment operating in the CBRS band have also begun, which are laying the foundation for advanced application scenarios that have more demanding performance requirements in terms of throughput, latency, reliability, availability and connection density – for example, Industry 4.0 applications such as connected production machinery, mobile robotics, AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and AR (Augmented Reality)-assisted troubleshooting.

Examples of 5G NR-based CBRS network installations range from luxury automaker BMW Group’s industrial-grade 5G network for autonomous logistics at its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina and the U.S. Navy’s standalone private 5G network at NAS (Naval Air Station) Whidbey Island to mobile operator Verizon’s planned activation of 5G NR-equipped CBRS small cells to supplement its existing 5G service deployment over C-band and mmWave (Millimeter Wave) spectrum.

SNS Telecom & IT estimates that annual investments in LTE and 5G NR-based CBRS RAN (Radio Access Network), mobile core and transport network infrastructure will account for nearly $900 Million by the end of 2023. Complemented by an expanding selection of 3GPP Band 48/n48-compatible end user devices, the market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 20% between 2023 and 2026 to surpass $1.5 Billion in annual spending by 2026. Much of this growth will be driven by private cellular, neutral host and fixed wireless broadband network deployments, as well as 5G buildouts aimed at improving the economics of the cable operators’ MVNO services.

The “LTE & 5G NR-Based CBRS Networks: 2023 – 2030 – Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts” report presents a detailed assessment of the market for LTE and 5G NR in CBRS spectrum including the value chain, market drivers, barriers to uptake, enabling technologies, key trends, future roadmap, business models, use cases, application scenarios, standardization, regulatory landscape, case studies, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also provides forecasts for LTE and 5G NR-based CBRS network infrastructure and terminal equipment from 2023 to 2030. The forecasts cover three infrastructure submarkets, two air interface technologies, two cell type categories, five device form factors, seven use cases and 11 vertical industries.

The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report, as well as a database of over 800 LTE/5G NR-based CBRS network engagements – as of Q3’2023.

The report has the following key findings:

SNS Telecom & IT estimates that annual investments in LTE and 5G NR-based CBRS network infrastructure will account for nearly $900 Million by the end of 2023. Complemented by an expanding selection of 3GPP Band 48/n48-compatible end user devices, the market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 20% between 2023 and 2026 to surpass $1.5 Billion in annual spending by 2026.
LTE-based CBRS network deployments have gained considerable momentum in recent years and encompass hundreds of thousands of cell sites to support use cases as diverse as mobile network densification, fixed wireless broadband in rural communities, MVNO offload, neutral host small cells for in-building coverage enhancement, and private cellular networks for vertical industries and enterprises.
Commercial rollouts of 5G NR network equipment operating in the CBRS band have also begun, which are laying the foundation for Industry 4.0 and advanced application scenarios that have more demanding performance requirements in terms of throughput, latency, reliability, availability and connection density.
By eliminating the entry barriers associated with exclusive-use licensed spectrum, CBRS has spurred the entry of many new players in the cellular industry – ranging from private 4G/5G network specialists such as Celona, Betacom, Ballast Networks, Kajeet and BearCom to neutral host solutions provider InfiniG.
The secondary market for leasing and monetizing CBRS PAL spectrum rights is starting to get off the ground with the availability of spectrum exchange platforms – from the likes of Federated Wireless and Select Spectrum – which connect license holders with prospective third-party users to streamline transactions of under-utilized PAL spectrum.

Summary of CBRS Network Deployments

Summarized below is a review of LTE and 5G NR-based CBRS network across the United States and its territories:

Mobile Network Densification: Verizon has progressively rolled out CBRS spectrum for its LTE service across thousands of cell sites and is in the final stage of activating 5G NR-equipped CBRS small cells to supplement its existing 5G service deployment over C-band and mmWave (Millimeter Wave) spectrum. Claro Puerto Rico and several other mobile operators are also using CBRS to expand the capacity of their networks in high-traffic density environments.
Fixed Wireless Broadband Services: Frontier Communications, Mediacom, Midco, Nextlink Internet, Mercury Broadband, Surf Internet, Cal.net, IGL TeleConnect, OhioTT and MetaLINK are some of the many WISPs (Wireless Internet Service Providers) that have deployed 3GPP-based CBRS networks for fixed wireless broadband services in rural and underserved markets with limited high-speed internet options.
Mobile Networks for New Entrants: Comcast and Charter Communications are leveraging their licensed CBRS spectrum holdings to install RAN infrastructure for targeted wireless coverage in strategic locations where subscriber density and data consumption is highest. The CBRS network buildouts are aimed at improving the economics of the cable operators’ MVNO services by offloading a larger proportion of mobile data traffic from host networks.
Neutral Host Networks: Among other neutral host CBRS network installations, social media and technology giant Meta has built an in-building wireless network – using small cells operating in the GAA tier of CBRS spectrum and MOCN (Multi-Operator Core Network) technology – to provide reliable cellular coverage for mobile operators Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile at its properties in the United States.
Private Cellular Networks: The availability of CBRS spectrum is accelerating private LTE and 5G network deployments across a multitude of vertical industries and application scenarios, extending from localized wireless systems for geographically limited coverage in factories, warehouses, airports, rail yards, maritime terminals, medical facilities, office buildings, sports venues, military bases and university campuses to municipal networks for community broadband, distance learning and smart city initiatives. Some notable examples of recent and ongoing deployments are listed below:
- Education: Higher education institutes are at the forefront of hosting on-premise LTE and 5G networks in campus environments. Texas A&M University, Purdue University, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, Cal Poly, Virginia Tech, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Stanislaus State, West Chester University and Howard University are among the many universities that have deployed cellular networks for experimental research or smart campus-related applications. Another prevalent theme in the education sector is the growing number of private LTE networks aimed at eliminating the digital divide for remote learning in school districts throughout the United States.
- Governments & Municipalities: The City of Las Vegas is deploying one of the largest private cellular networks in the United States, which will serve as an open connectivity platform available to local businesses, government, and educational institutions for deploying innovative solutions within the city limits. Local authorities in Tucson and Glendale (Arizona), Santa Maria (California), Longmont (Colorado), Shreveport (Louisiana), Montgomery (Alabama), and Dublin (Ohio) and several other municipalities have also deployed their own private wireless networks using CBRS spectrum.
- Healthcare: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, regional healthcare provider Geisinger took advantage of CBRS spectrum to deploy a private LTE network for telemedicine services in rural Pennsylvania while Memorial Health System utilized a temporary CBRS network to provide wireless connectivity for frontline staff and medical equipment in COVID-19 triage tents and testing facilities at its Springfield (Illinois) hospital. Since then, healthcare providers have begun investing in CBRS-enabled private wireless networks on a more permanent basis to facilitate secure and reliable communications for critical care, patient monitoring and back office systems in hospital campuses and other medical settings.
- Manufacturing: German automotive giant BMW has deployed an industrial-grade 5G network for autonomous logistics at its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. Rival automaker Tesla is migrating PROFINET/PROFIsafe-based AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) communications from Wi-Fi to private 5G networks at its factories. Agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere is installing private cellular infrastructure at 13 of its production facilities. Dow, another prominent name in the U.S. manufacturing sector, has adopted a private LTE network to modernize plant maintenance at its Freeport chemical complex in Texas. FII (Foxconn Industrial Internet), Del Conca USA, Logan Aluminum, OCI Global, Schneider Electric, Bosch Rexroth, CommScope, Ericsson, Hitachi and many other manufacturers are also integrating private 4G/5G connectivity into their production operations.
- Military: All branches of the U.S. military are actively investing in private cellular networks. One noteworthy example is the U.S. Navy’s standalone private 5G network at NAS (Naval Air Station) Whidbey Island in Island County (Washington). Operating in DISH Network’s licensed 600 MHz and CBRS spectrum, the Open RAN-compliant 5G network delivers wireless coverage across a geographic footprint of several acres to support a wide array of applications for advanced base operations, equipment maintenance and flight line management.
- Mining: Compass Minerals, Albemarle, Newmont and a number of other companies have deployed 3GPP-based private wireless networks for the digitization and automation of their mining operations. Pronto’s off-road AHS (Autonomous Haulage System) integrates private cellular technology to support the operation of driverless trucks in remote mining environments that lack coverage from traditional mobile operators.
- Oil & Gas: Cameron LNG has recently implemented a private LTE network for industrial applications at its natural gas liquefaction plant in Hackberry (Louisiana). Chevron, EOG Resources, Pioneer Natural Resources and Oxy (Occidental Petroleum Corporation) are also engaged in efforts to integrate LTE and 5G NR-based CBRS network equipment into their private communications systems.
- Retail & Hospitality: Private cellular networks have been installed to enhance guest connectivity and internal operations in a host of hotels and resorts, including the Sound Hotel in Seattle (Washington), Gale South Beach and Faena Hotel in Miami (Florida), and Caribe Royale in Orlando (Florida). The American Dream retail and entertainment complex in East Rutherford (New Jersey) and regional shopping mall Southlands in Aurora (Colorado) are notable examples of early adopters in the retail segment.
- Sports: The NFL (National Football League) is utilizing CBRS spectrum and private wireless technology for coach-to-coach and sideline (coach-to-player) communications during football games at all 30 of its stadiums. HSG (Haslam Sports Group) and other venue owners have installed 3GPP-based private wireless infrastructure at stadiums, arenas and other sports facilities for applications such as mobile ticket scanning, automated turnstiles, POS (Point-of-Sale) systems, digital signage, immersive experiences, video surveillance, crowd management and smart parking. FOX Sports and ARA (American Rally Association) have employed the use of private 4G/5G networks to support live broadcast operations.
- Transportation: Private cellular networks have been deployed or are being trialed at some of the busiest international and domestic airports, including Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty, DFW (Dallas Fort Worth), Dallas Love Field and MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul), as well as inland and maritime ports such as SSA Marine’s (Carrix) terminals in the ports of Oakland and Seattle. Other examples in the transportation segment range from on-premise 4G/5G networks at Amazon’s FCs (Fulfillment Centers), CalChip Connect’s Bucks County distribution center and Teltech’s Dallas-Fort Worth warehouse to Freight railroad operator’s private LTE network for rail yard workers at its outdoor rail switching facilities.
- Utilities: Major utility companies spent nearly $200 Million in the CBRS PAL auction to acquire licenses within their service territories. Southern Linc, SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric), SCE (Southern California Edison) and Hawaiian Electric are using their licensed spectrum holdings to deploy 3GPP-based FANs (Field Area Networks) in support of grid modernization programs while Duke Energy has installed a private LTE network operating in the unlicensed GAA tier of CBRS spectrum. Among other examples, Enel has deployed a CBRS network for business-critical applications at a remote solar power plant.
- Other Verticals: LTE and 5G NR-ready CBRS networks have also been deployed in other vertical sectors, including agriculture, arts and culture, construction and forestry. In addition, CBRS networks for indoor wireless coverage enhancement and smart building applications are also starting to be implemented in office environments, corporate campuses and residential buildings. Prominent examples include the Cabana Happy Valley residential complex in Phoenix (Arizona) and Rudin Management Company’s 345 Park Avenue multi-tenant commercial office building in New York City.

References:

https://www.snstelecom.com/cbrs

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