December 2016 | Business View Magazine

96 97 “micro” Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and small cells. DAS and small cell installations are critical in bolster- ing network coverage to accommodate large volumes of data traffic in urban environments, stadiums, airports, shop- ping malls and in other populated areas. For example, Minnesota-based NATE Member company, Vertical Limit Construction, recently completed the DAS testing work on U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. U.S. Bank Stadium is the new, state-of-the- art home of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and is slated to be the future host of both the Super Bowl and NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. Due to the work of Vertical Limit Con- struction, attendees to the new stadium will be able to enjoy lightning speed data connectivity at the palm of their hands on game day. NATE member companies have also been involved in deploy- ing DAS and Small Cell networks at other prominent American sports venues, airports and shopping centers around the United States. This work is paramount to ensure that in-building coverage and connectivity can handle both present and future data demands. According to the International Tele- communication Union (ITU), it is widely anticipated that 5G (5th Generation) commercial networks will be in the marketplace by 2020. Wireless carriers like Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile are already in the process of planning 5G trials in the United States in order to pave the way for this technology. The ITU states that 5G networks will have a peak speed of 20 Gbps (billions of bits per second), or 20 times the peak speed specification of today’s 4G LTE networks, which stands at 1 Gps. To place this speed into per- spective, this could result in a two-hour movie being downloaded in a matter of minutes. NATE member companies have developed and maintained every generation of communications net- works and will help make 5G networks a reality in the future. The next time you utilize your smartphone to watch a You- Tube video or stream a movie on Netflix, remember that NATE is on the forefront of making these next generation technologies and modern day conveniences possible. Upon the conclusion of this innovative auction, NATE’s contractor companies and equipment supplier members will be called on to “repurpose” the spectrum by deploying the new antennas and wireless equipment on communications structures located across the United States. This important infrastructure work will help pave the way to enable emerging technologies and networks that are capable of meeting the country’s connec- tivity and data needs moving forward. NATE members will also be playing a critical role in the build- out of FirstNet, the country’s first nationwide broadband net- work devoted exclusively to public safety. The establishment of FirstNet was made possible when Congress passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. This historic law allocated valuable spectrum and up to $7 billion in funding for the construction of the FirstNet network. When the FirstNet build-out is ready to begin in 2017, NATE member companies will be helping provide the wireless infrastructure services and equipment necessary to make this interoperable network a reality. FirstNet will ultimately help save lives and provide law enforcement officials, fire fighters, and EMS personnel with the critical communications capabilities and resources they need to respond to emergency situations. NATE also recently established an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Committee consisting of experienced drone service provid- ers, pilots, and tower contractor executives. The NATE UAS Com- mittee is playing a proactive role in monitoring the trends and regulatory environment associated with rapidly evolving drone technologies and making recommendations to the wireless and broadcast infrastructure community on best practices when it comes to UAS integration. The committee is also focusing on collaborating with federal agencies, members of Congress, and other interested stakeholders in the development of guidelines to promote the safe commercial and private use of these sys- tems. The committee plans to continue this dialogue to ensure that the wireless infrastructure industry’s priorities remain at the forefront of the conversation as key decisions are made regard- ing this technology. NATE remains steadfast that UAS technologies, if integrated appropriately, can play a supplemental role in enhancing safety and quality in the industry as well as contribute to the vital economic, public safety and national security benefits associated with broadband network deployments in the United States. NATE member contractor firms are also playing an instru- mental role in densifying networks through the deployment of THe NAtiONAL ASSOciAtiON OF TOwer ErectOrS