On behalf of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, CTIA is asking Congress for a sweetheart deal to lock up even more exclusive spectrum, at the expense of U.S. wireless leadership, mobile competition, and national security. 

While they claim increased demand for data traffic over cellular networks, in reality those projections ignore the fact that Wi-Fi—powered by unlicensed spectrum—carries the vast majority of data on mobile devices, while consumer demand and the next generation of technology is better served by low power shared spectrum that can be tailored to localized needs that address capacity, such as private networks, network offload and Industry 4.0 applications.

Experts have long questioned the Big Three’s inflated projections for mobile traffic. Even CTIA’s own members have contradicted their demands for more spectrum by telling Wall Street that they have plenty of spectrum to accommodate their networks’ needs. A new column from Cambridge University Professor William Webb, former president at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), further illustrates why it’s time to set aside “a presumption of endless growth in wireless and terrestrial broadband data rates.” 

“Terrestrial and mobile-data growth is slowing down. In fact, absent a dramatic change in consumer tech and broadband usage patterns, data-rate demand appears set to top out below 1 billion bits per second (1 gigabit per second) in just a few years,” writes Webb.

Based on these trends, regulators “no longer need to find new spectrum bands for cellular every few years and then conduct auctions.” Instead, wireless leaders need to focus on “cheaper and more efficient or more reliable ways to deliver existing services…” Shared and unlicensed spectrum are proven and reliable ways to deliver needed services more efficiently, all while preserving incumbent use of spectrum (including critical national security systems).

“Better indoor coverage can happen via private 5G networks or through improved access to existing and enhanced Wi-Fi,” wrote Webb, referring to private networks that rely primarily on shared spectrum.  “The above scenarios represent a major change of direction—from an industry built around innovating a new mobile generation every decade toward an industry focused on delivering lower prices and increased reliability.”