Will the US be 5G ready?

Our 5G deployment process is slowed by outdated regulatory processes, spectrum scarcity, and local bureaucracy related to building local towers and other infrastructure. The US faces unique challenges associated with the deployment of small cells, which are antennae the size of a pizza box that enable 5G’s signal strength and resiliency. Deployment delays also result from approval times on small cell applications, permitting, and zoning processes at the local level. So what will it take for the US to be 5G ready, and why is it important for us to beat global competitors who are on an accelerated schedule to roll out this emerging technology?

1. The U.S. must rapidly adopt complementary public policies with timelines that address ongoing spectrum shortage concerns.
2. The deployment of small cell technologies must become a priority to accelerate 5G infrastructure.
3. Stakeholders involved in 5G deployment must keep top of mind the economic and social good that these next-generation networks can deliver.

[Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee is a fellow in Brookings’s Center for Technology Innovation]