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CenterFuse Broadband Feasibility Report • The other key characteristic of millimeter wave spectrum is that it doesn't pass through anything. For instance, it won't pass through the human body, so a person trying to connect with a hotspot outdoors can't stand between the phone and the hotspot. This makes it strictly an outdoor technology if deployed outside, because the signal will not carry into buildings, even through glass. The technology is also largely stopped by precipitation. • The best long-term application of this will be as indoor hotspots. This would be a good way to beam gigabit broadband around an office without needing wires. But this still means stringing fiber to each room that will get bandwidth, because unlike WiFi, the signal won't pass through walls from room to room. • Cellular carriers may deploy 5G in busy downtowns, in stadiums, and in places like hotel conference centers. The technology has a real wow factor for somebody that has a device that can use it. Fiber-to-the-Curb. One of the most intriguing new technologies is fiber-to-the-curb. Verizon is pioneering the technology and is calling it fixed wireless access (FWA). The technology consists of building fiber along streets and then beaming wireless using millimeter wave spectrum to customers. Historically this kind of technology has been referred to as fiber-to-the-curb. Verizon introduced the technology in 2018 and deployed trials in parts of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. In June of this year, Verizon introduced the second generation of the technology, with the first new market being Detroit. The first-generation technology required mounting an antenna on the home to receive the signal. The new generation of technology hangs a receiver on the inside of a window that faces the transmitter on the pole outside the home. Verizon claims the new technology can be self- installed by customers. One of the key requirements for using the technology is that there must be a good line-of-sight between the transmitter on the pole and a customer. That means no intervening trees or other impediments. Verizon claimed that the first-generation equipment technology could deliver speeds up to 300 Mbps for up to 2,000 feet from a pole. Many engineers in the industry think a more realistic distance is 1,000 feet or less. Verizon is no longer making any distance claims. Verizon claims the second generation can deliver speeds up to a gigabit, Verizon claims that the technology will meet all 5G specifications. However, there are no 5G features yet being used in the field, and this is a millimeter wave radio path to a home. When 5G is finally introduced in the field, this application might benefit some if it can use the 5G features that tailor bandwidth paths to customer demand. But since most 5G features are intended to benefit cellular traffic, this specific technology is not likely to be improved much when layering on 5G features. From a deployment perspective, this is an expensive technology to deploy. It means building fiber deep into residential neighborhoods. The industry analysts at MoffetNathanson looked at the first-generation equipment and said they didn't see how the technology could be any cheaper Page 75