Rise Broadband: Fixed 5G Broadband Has Real Rural Challenges

Despite increased interest in fixed 5G on the part of the nation’s largest carriers, it’s still not a great choice for rural areas, said Jeff Kohler, co-founder of rural broadband wireless network operator Rise Broadband.

In discussing fixed 5G vs. broadband wireless, Kohler said he sees the relatively short range of 5G wireless as a disadvantage in rural areas. “On the 5G front, what we’re seeing is a lot of high-frequency millimeter wave technology,” said Kohler. As Kohler noted, millimeter wave spectrum is “great for high capacity and high speed over very short distances.” In contrast, the broadband wireless technology that Rise is using can cover distances of up to five miles from a tower, Kohler said. “Using millimeter wave you would probably have to split [the signal] five to seven times using small antennas and repeaters to reach three to five miles,” he commented.