Densification and rationalisation of the 5G mobile networks

The Institut Cerdà analyzes in a report the impact of 5G in the country.

5G will accelerate the digital transformation of the economy and the society. In the digitalization tsunami, the expectations created around the business opportunities derived from the new technology are big. However, despite the progress, there are challenges related to the standardization of technology, the regulatory framework, the use cases that support the business model and how they fit into the territory.

The densification of the network is one of the main impacts derived from the deployment of 5G. In urban environments, operators and Public Administrations must find and agree on acceptable locations to install the infrastructure. In addition, they must integrate the antennas with the environment through a scalable development model.

This study identifies two basic deployment models: one network per operator or one shared network. The second model, in full expansion in Europe, would favor efficiency in the implementation, would contribute to reduce the digital divide and would allow operators to free up capital for investments in value-added services for consumers and customers.

On this matter, the study confronts the challenges of the new technology with the vision of more than 30 agents of the 5G ecosystem, addressing uncertainties beyond the technological scope and focusing on the fit of the new mobile network in the territory. The interest groups are mostly in favor of the shared model of the sites, since they allow rationalizing and minimizing the impact of densification.

The development of services related to 5G is expected to transform industrial processes and the current production model, generating, in turn, a radical change in urban and territorial models.

Decalogue of criteria that should be taken into account for the future deployment of the new technology according to the study “Strategy and argumentation for the densification and rationalization of 5G mobile networks” prepared by the Institut Cerdà

• Rationalization in the occupation of public and private space
• Improved public services and opportunity for the development of territorial areas
• Territorial balance and commitment to comprehensive and equitable roll-out models
• Fostering co-investment and guaranteeing free competition
• Network or infrastructure sharing
• Developing the technological challenges of 5G
• The importance of R&D in enhancing usage cases of the technology
• Spreading the technology and the participation of social groups
• Knowledge about its effects
• Data, privacy, ethics and digital security

Download PDF (Spanish): Densificación y racionalización de las redes móviles 5G

Download PDF (English): Executive summary — Densification and rationalisation of the 5G mobile networks across the country