Citizens Broadband Radio (CBRS) is now deployed in more than four-fifths (82%) of U.S. counties with active deployments, and three quarters of all private 5G networks run on the technology.
That’s according to a new report on CBRS from Spectrum for the Future, 5G-OT Alliance, American-Made 5G, OnGo Alliance, and WISPA.
The report expects CBRS deployments to easily outpace traditional high-power deployments, with an expanded 86% share of U.S. private 5G deployments for CBRS in the next few years.
Other report findings include:
- Nearly 260 manufacturers are currently using CBRS, a figure expected to grow by a factor of nine by 2032.
- The report said CBRS-enabled private networks are reducing manufacturing downtime by nearly a third (30%), while also enabling automation, predictive maintenance, and real-time analytics.
- More than 442,000+ CBRS base stations have been deployed, nearly 70% of which are in rural areas.
- More than 10 million U.S. locations now have access to CBRS-powered broadband connectivity.
“For years, the CBRS framework has been a success story. Factories running smarter, rural communities getting connected, and airports running safer. This report gives a clear picture of what CBRS is delivering for America, billions in private investment and broadband access for underserved communities. Shared spectrum is an innovation platform that’s truly transforming our economy,” said Dave Wright, Spectrum for the Future Coalition policy director, in a prepared statement.
The report’s findings provide more evidence for further government support of CBRS technology. Last year, 25 organizations sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr in opposition to prospective changes to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) framework. The companies said that the changes would upend the goals for which CBRS was developed.
