5G Americas President Chris Pearson

How satellite will play a role in the 5G communications environment around the globe is a key challenge for the satellite industry as it looks to combine with terrestrial players more effectively than it has in the past. In this interview, Via Satellite talks to Chris Pearson, the president of 5G Americas, an industry organization of telecommunications service providers and manufacturers that advocates for LTE wireless technologies and their evolution to 5G. Pearson discusses the global 5G rollout and what role the satellite industry can play in this evolving communications landscape.

Pearson said the COVID-19 crisis highlights the need to accelerate closing the digital divide. “In just a few months’ time, the COVID-19 crisis has brought about years of change in the way companies in all sectors and regions do business. As schools, businesses, and day to day life function remotely, connectivity becomes the critical and fundamental application for society,” he said.

VIA SATELLITE: 2020 was an unprecedented year in global history. Do you think the impact of 2020 will slow down or accelerate the rollout of 5G services across the globe, given the need for connectivity has never been greater?

Pearson: The COVID-19 pandemic has provided unprecedented health and economic challenges, but the deployment of new 5G technologies has been robust. Connectivity for all is the critical and fundamental application during these difficult times. As of November 2020, there are over 135 deployments of 5G networks across the globe and 229 million 5G connections. That makes 5G the fastest growing mobile wireless communications technology ever.

The pace of introducing new 5G has increased in 2020 in both the network and device domains, despite uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, in 2020, we saw the first 5G standalone network launched, as well as additional deployments of 5G New Radio, 5G devices supporting Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD), and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS). Additionally, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, the pandemic has fueled digitalization pace and fixed wireless access is now offered by nearly two-thirds of service providers globally.

In January 2020, the FCC proposed $20 billion in funding to close the digital divide in rural areas, however continued work will need to be done to make more mid-band spectrum available, as well as work with our communities to demonstrate the benefits of cellular wireless and streamline deployment of 5G cell sites and other infrastructure like edge computing servers.

VIA SATELLITE: There has always been a lot of talk in the satellite industry about how it can work better with the wireless industry. Do you see satellite having a significant role as the rollout of 5G services happens? Or will it be marginalized to the edges?

Pearson: Satellite has a role to play in 5G, but it is hard to know if that will be significant. 3GPP has worked to include satellite access as part of their 5G network architecture. In 3GPP Release 16, it outlines the need for seamless capability between terrestrial and non-terrestrial wireless access. Yet, the majority of mobile wireless operators are currently focused on providing 5G NR terrestrial service coverage, upgrading to 5G Core Network technology and increasing their network density.

VIA SATELLITE: We have seen the C-band situation in the United States, where the satellite industry gave up spectrum to the wireless industry. Did you view this situation as a win/win for both industries?

Pearson: I applaud the FCC for working through the various challenges of the C-band spectrum to provide a possible win-win situation for many industries. It is imperative for any nation to utilize their wireless spectrum to the highest use for the greater good of society. I believe the FCC’s overall guiding principles throughout this controversial issue were altruistic. The U.S. has been a leader in identifying and allocating high band mmWave spectrum. Yet, much of the world has coalesced around mid-band spectrum as it provides a sweet spot of both capacity and coverage. For the economy, the U.S. Treasury, the ICT [Information and Communications Technology] industry, the satellite industry, and the wireless industry, the FCC navigated it all fairly and transparently to a good resolution.

VIA SATELLITE: How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the wireless industry? What are the biggest challenges? 

Pearson: Mobile wireless networks continued to perform at the highest level maintaining excellent service levels throughout the pandemic. However, there have been some slowdowns and concerns in certain areas such as with standards delays, supply chain disruptions, spectrum auction postponements and the cutting of capital expenditures. All of these could affect the future momentum in certain regions of the world. The U.S. 5G industry has been a noticeable leader in 5G in 2020 with little slow down in any area.

With the U.S., the two biggest challenges remain access to mid-band spectrum and improving the understanding from our local communities about the benefits that wireless cellular brings to them. 5G requires denser networks than 4G LTE, so there is more work to do accelerate small cell siting and infrastructure placement.

VIA SATELLITE: How do you compare the use of satellite compared to other technologies when it comes to backhaul? Will it have a bigger or smaller role than before? 

Pearson: Backhaul is a key element for delivery to customers the full potential of 5G services and applications. Overall, backhaul needs to be high capacity, reliable, low latency, efficiently deployed, and cost effective. Satellite will have a role to play in backhaul for 5G operators just as it does today. It is a tool in the toolkit for operators. However, 5G will require even more robust capabilities than 4G as outlined in our recent 5G Americas paper and thus I do not see that role necessarily increasing. Also, 5G standards now allow for integrated access and backhaul which allows for an operator to utilize spectrum for access and backhaul.

VIA SATELLITE: The satellite industry is going through big changes with Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites. How do you think these changes will impact how they work with the wireless industry?

Pearson: It is too early to tell how the changes in the satellite industry will affect the terrestrial wireless industry. There are increases in technological capabilities in both industries. Historically, satellite has not been a big disrupter to the terrestrial wireless industry. However, in certain geographic areas, it is possible that partnerships could evolve to help bridge the digital divide in rural and less populated areas.

VIA SATELLITE: Finally, how do you see the 5G landscape evolving over the next few years? What are the key challenges to bring widespread adoption of 5G services?

Pearson: I am very positive about the 5G landscape and widespread adoption of 5G services over the next few years. Some of the challenges over the next few years in many parts of the world will be the economic, societal, and structural difficulties stemming from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 5G deployments are a huge investment for network operators requiring spectrum, equipment, and new affordable mass market 5G devices.