Can Concealment Technology Help Drive 5G Deployment Faster?

Operators face increasing demand for capacity with the rollout of 5G. ABI Research forecasts data traffic to reach 2,708 exabytes by 2025, with 5G data traffic accounting for almost 50%. One way to handle the demand is to densify their networks by deploying additional outdoor cell sites, using small cells, in areas with higher demand for capacity (e.g., urban hotspots). These additional outdoor small cells complement the macro cell sites in providing better capacity and coverage. When it comes to the deploying of outdoor small cells, one of the key challenges is site acquisition, with other challenges being power requirement and backhaul for the small cells. To overcome the site acquisition challenge, operators need to meet the aesthetical requirement set out by local governments.  

A number of companies have been researching and developing innovative cell-site concealment technologies. Raycap’s Stealth has launched its 5G concealment panels equipped with InvisiWave material, and it is coming to a market where other players have also positioned themselves. Integrated solutions by companies such as ConcealFab and antenna vendors such as CommScope are some of the available concealment solutions. A concealment solution has to be RF-transparent, meaning it does not affect the performance of the radios or antennas, while ensuring backward compatibility with legacy frequencies. With the new and higher frequencies (e.g., mmWave and mid-band) from 5G, it is necessary for a concealment solution to work well with these new frequencies.   

A concealment solution plays a part in helping operators secure the optimal location for their cell sites, by overcoming zoning or aesthetic requirements. It can also help operators tackle the cost of deployment because existing sites would have access to power as well as backhaul, lowering the total cost of deployment and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). For example, to better manage the TCO for cell sites, operators might choose to upgrade an existing concealed 4G site with 5G instead of building a new cell site, assuming it provides optimal coverage. Therefore, the concealment solution needs to be compatible (i.e., RF-transparent) with the new 5G frequencies. Another example is where an operator has to deploy a new outdoor small cell 5G site at a location best suited for coverage, but concealment is required due to local government regulation. Similarly, RF-transparency is critical, and the solution needs to ensure that the performance of the network remains top-notch. In both scenarios, having a concealment solution catered to 5G as well as any legacy frequency bands provides flexibility to the operator’s deployment plan.

There have also been regulatory changes intended to stimulate the deployment of 5G small cell sites (e.g., FCC order and implementing regulation in the European Union) and tackle some of the parameters for deployment (e.g., fees and size). For operators, the recent Ninth Circuit ruling has reinforced the stance that local governments should not obstruct or delay the deployment for small cells, for example, through charging excessive fees. Setting aesthetic requirements remains in the hands of the local government when it comes to small cell deployment. One of the last potential regulatory hurdles, aesthetics, should see a positive impact from companies developing more solutions that fit the requirements of operators in performance and local governments in concealment. The time needed by operators to acquire the location for a cell site and deploy will likely shorten in the future as solutions are rolled out and local governments set up their guidelines.

The pace for 5G small cell deployments is not a question of “if” but a question of “when” and “how fast.” Concealment solutions can hasten the pace by resolving one of the regulatory issues in small cell deployment, the aesthetical requirement. Through ABI Research’s forecast, 5G small cell sites globally are expected to grow from 3,000 sites in 2019 to 718,000 sites by 2025, a CAGR of 149%. While it is not the greatest in number of cell sites when compared to previous generation networks (i.e., 3G and 4G), this is a significant opportunity and one that will grow in the long term.

5G small cell deployment is not just about overcoming regulatory challenges—there are certainly technical challenges to be addressed as well (e.g., power requirement and backhaul for small cells). The pace for its deployment is also dependent on how fast these technical challenges can be overcome by the industry. The aesthetical requirement and technical requirements for 5G small cell deployment are part of the same equation. However, ABI Research believes that concealment solutions can reduce the friction between operators and local governments and help expedite the deployment of 5G. With more deployments over the next half decade, concealment solutions are expected to be more cost effective. Different local governments will have varying standards for the aesthetic requirement. The concealment industry would benefit from having a certain degree of standardization in the requirements thereby helping the industry gain from economies of scale.