In May, we took the CBRS Alliance and OnGo ecosystem on the road to sunny Orlando for Connect(X) 2019. Across three full days, the Alliance led the conversation on shared spectrum and the imminent commercial deployment of services in the 3.5 GHz CBRS band, prompting many to call Connect(X) “The CBRS Show.”
For those of you not familiar, Connect(X) is an annual event focused on showcasing industry leaders delivering infrastructure solutions for ubiquitous connectivity. Hosted by the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), the event highlights the innovative technology, supporting professional services and partner ecosystems for 21st century communications. This was the second year the CBRS Alliance attended the event, and the progress we’ve made since last year was nothing short of inspiring.
On the first day of the event, before the exhibit floor even opened, we hosted a workshop highlighting the status of the OnGo market as well as current deployment stories. Speakers from Alliance leadership, Mobile Experts, Midco, Landmark Dividend, Federated Wireless, Cradlepoint and BTIG Research presented to a packed room on topics ranging from the growth of the CBRS Alliance and OnGo device market, to case studies on OnGo deployments for managed services, private LTE, fixed wireless and industrial IoT.
Day two featured the unveiling of the first-ever OnGo Technology Pavilion – a community on the show floor highlighting 30 CBRS Alliance member companies showcasing their innovative OnGo technologies across multiple vertical markets. The pavilion was the center of attention on the exhibit floor and each participating member reported valuable conversations with prospective customers and partners, all while showing the strength of the OnGo ecosystem. We met with stakeholders from across the wireless industry and heard the excitement as the reality of commercial deployments draw near this summer.
As part of our presence at Connect(X), the CBRS Alliance also sponsored the Private LTE track, which featured dozens of companies presenting on topics ranging from total cost of ownership models and cellular interconnect, to understanding GAA & PAL licensed access to 3.5 GHz band. Hundreds of attendees joined these presentations, and the feedback on the content was overwhelmingly positive.
As progress in the FCC authorization process for use of the 3.5 GHz CBRS band accelerates, the wireless market can soon take advantage of new spectrum to deliver on use cases like network densification, IoT, neutral host networks, and private LTE networks, with an eye towards utilizing OnGo shared spectrum for 5G in the future. Industry stakeholders including analysts from Wells Fargo Securities and TR Daily cited OnGo/CBRS as a leading topic at Connect(X), and it’s true – the Alliance and OnGo really were ubiquitous at the event. We’re thrilled with the amount of progress we’ve made as an ecosystem and Connect(X) truly exemplified the growth of this industry. But remember, this is only the beginning. Stay tuned for widespread commercialization – we’re only a few months away. Ready, Set, OnGo!
