It’s been six years of collaboration, but the FCC has finally unlocked the 3.5GHz spectrum, aka the “OnGo” band, for consumer use.
Prior to this, the 3.5GHz spectrum had been exclusively used by the U.S. Department of Defense for naval purposes alongside the coast. It will still be able to use the spectrum but now it can also be used by the public. If the DoD does need access in a specific coastal area a “protection zone” will be activated and public users will be automatically routed to other frequencies.
This, in turn, will help enhance current 4G connectivity, but will also help boost 5G once further rollout becomes available. 3.5GHz is “mid-band” with decent long-distance range.
Per the VentureBeat article:
As additional devices are OnGo-certified, the CBRS Alliance expects that the band will also be used outside of the smartphone market, assisting rural broadband, enterprise IT, hospitality, retail, real estate, industrial IoT, and transportation initiatives.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via The Mac Observer and VentureBeat