Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
My name is Renee Morales, and I am part of the public affairs team at Crown Castle. In my role, I cover the central area, which spans 18 states, including Pennsylvania.
Crown Castle is the nation’s largest provider of shared telecommunications infrastructure. Our portfolio includes 40,000 cell towers, 80,000 miles of route fiber, and 70,000 small cell nodes, either on air or in development.
Can you explain what you’re trying to do with the 5G deployment?
Simply put, 5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology. Keep in mind, 4G allowed us to consume data, videos and use apps in an enhanced way on our mobile phones. 5G will transmit data at least 40 times faster and has 4 times greater capacity than 4G LTE networks. Think of it like allowing data to flow through a fire hose rather than a garden hose.
5G networks are underpinned by small cell nodes or antenna that are affixed on utility poles, street lights, or other infrastructure and fiber in the public right of way. Small cells provide capacity in a geographic area where the increased demand for data has grown exponentially. The CTIA estimates that as many as 800,000 small cell nodes will need to be deployed throughout the United States in order to effectively support 5G networks.
Today, the average home has 13 wireless devices, including smart phones, watches, tablets, fitness trackers, and laptops, that together place a strain on wireless carriers’ networks. Small cells help to increase network capacity because 5G will increase the speed of wireless networks.
What do you think it would change or improve?
5G technology will improve our ability to connect, the speed at which we can connect, and spur innovation to support Internet of Things applications, many of which are just now being developed. Across every industry, 5G will have the opportunity to revolutionize the way in which business is conducted, including education, agriculture, healthcare and commerce.
Rapid deployment of 5G infrastructure cannot occur unless the process for deployment of small cell nodes is further streamlined. There is statewide legislation currently under consideration that would establish a uniform and predictable process to regulate the deployment of small cells. Crown Castle, along with a number of other stakeholders, associations and businesses that comprise the PA Partnership for 5G, have been advocating for the passage of HB 1400 for more than a year.
How do you think it would affect you and everyone else personally?
Connectivity plays a critical role in our lives. The ability to call grandparents on a tablet, have virtual-office visits, take remote learning classes, the possibilities are endless and we haven’t really tapped into all that technology will bring us.
The pandemic has clearly illustrated the importance that connectivity plays in our lives. For those who have connectivity challenges, whether it’s from insufficient network capacity or lack of a device, COVID-19 has heightened the conversation surrounding why it’s now more important than ever to invest in communications infrastructure that improves our ability to connect.
How will the 5G deployment change your industry?
Crown Castle is well positioned in any municipality to bring about the 5G revolution. We offer a shared communications infrastructure model. This means we build the infrastructure in a community that multiple wireless carriers can put their network equipment on. It’s a win for a jurisdiction as it reduces the amount of visual clutter by reducing the need for multiple poles and it’s a win for the carriers as it allows them to invest in their networks.
Improved connectivity stands to greatly improve telehealth as well as healthcare access. Consider that virtual doctor visits are approximately 75% less expensive than a doctor’s office visit and that remote monitoring of patients reduces readmissions by up to 44%. As more individuals stayed at home during the pandemic, Allegheny Health Network noted that telemedicine accounted for 90% of all primary care visits earlier this spring.
Are there any possible downsides, like changing prices or anything like that?
While we can’t speculate if there will be pricing changes, we can tell you the upside is that according to CTIA, cities like Pittsburgh could see its GDP grow by $458 million and have more than 2,800 jobs created as a result of small cell deployment and network investment.
What made you want to have 5G wiring?
As more and more consumers and businesses become reliant on wireless technology and as capacity is further strained by new devices coming online, 5G networks will increase data capacity and augment coverage.
In order for communities to have access to the next generation, 5G, it will require that enhanced communications infrastructure be built which consists of small cells and fiber.
Are there other places that have the 5G wiring in place now?
As the nation’s largest shared communications provider, Crown Castle is involved in deployments throughout the US. States that have adopted statewide small cell legislation are seeing deployments happening more quickly.
For example, wireless carriers have contracted with Crown Castle to deploy hundreds of nodes in cities similar in size to Pittsburgh like Denver, Orlando, Charlotte, El Paso, and Nashville. Additionally, these cities are all located in states that have all passed statewide small cell legislation which has resulted in a regulatory environment that promotes and subsequently increases the speed by which small cells are deployed. Pennsylvania has not yet enacted statewide legislation and to date, deployments in Pittsburgh have not been on pace with other markets.
