Time to move beyond 5G hype

It is time to move past the political and marketing talking points to consider both the promise of 5G and the challenge to its realization. First of all, to call 5G a “race” is a deceptive metaphor. A “race” connotes a contest along a common course with a start and finish. The reality is that 5G networks will be built piece-by-piece, area-by-area, and application-by-application over a protracted period of years. The national strategy for 5G needs to move beyond slogans and press releases. We need a laser focus on the two factors most essential to the success of American 5G: ubiquitous coverage and network security.  Unfortunately, in lieu of leadership for such a strategy, we are being fed slogans and told to go to races.

[Tom Wheeler is the former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission]