“Opinion: Spectrum sharing is essential for rural networks”

“The importance of wireless access – and therefore spectrum – for rural communities and users is increasing rapidly, both for personal and business or government purposes. Beyond mobile broadband, there is growing need for rural wireless connectivity for precision agriculture, transportation, public safety, utility field-workers and other uses. 

Rural economic growth, social welfare and access to fundamental services such as education and healthcare all hinge on better access to the Internet, cloud and business connectivity. That implies access to suitable spectrum resources. Critically, it also depends on timely, broad deployments of networks which make use of that spectrum. 

Disappointingly, networks suitable for advanced 5G services have so far only been deployed on a fraction of the footprint of nationwide, exclusive spectrum licenses awarded to the major carriers. 

But it does not have to be this way. Shared and unlicensed spectrum enables more agile and geographically focused deployments by alternative network owners to fill gaps in coverage from the national players and provide effective competition at a local level.”