AICC REPORT >>
Defining the Cellular Sunset A simple expression that is plaguing our industry (again) By Lou Fiore, Chairman, AICC
These frequencies allow for alternative technologies. If your needs are the simple passing of alarm data–such as Contact ID and similar formats–without audio or video, these alternatives should be explored. Simple alarm transmission can be accomplished by one-way radio. This technology has been in use since circa 1975. It has evolved from the 27 MHz Citizens Band, through the 150 MHz band to the 450 MHz band, and even to 900 MHz. Fully NRTL-compliant twoway radio versions, both for fire and high security applications, have also evolved.
As our industry works toward replacing 3G cellular radios with 4G cellular radios, it should be no surprise that I can confidently predict we will be making similar changes for years to come. 5G is already here. Will 6G be the end? It might seem so since 6G will be pushing the limits of the useable radio spectrum. It is likely that variations pushing these limits, the limits of information theory, newer antenna technology and faster, more dense chips will be created, forcing more sunsets and change-outs. In other words, as technology progresses, newer generations of cellular technology will occupy existing spectrum already devoted to cellular radio. If you cannot get more spectrum, you do a better job of using what you have. At some point new versions will not be backward compatible and will force new sunsets. xG to (x+1)G seems an inevitable progression. [26]
However, even if my view is wrong and cellular generations progress linearly from 4G to 5G to 6G and perhaps end there, we can still assume, based on history, that each generation will last about ten years. If indeed that trend continues that will give us twenty more years of dealing with sunsets. To some extent, with the competition among carriers, we now see major carriers moving 5G onto 3G spectrum just for the sake of saying they have 5G available – without, in the short term, giving their customers the ultimate advantages of 5G technology. We are somewhat caught up in this with the sunset of 3G on the AT&T and Verizon networks.
Another alternative to the one-way radio, two-way radio, and cellular is wireless mesh networks. In recent years, mesh technology has albeit taken over the one-way and twoway radio arena. Its simplicity and utility have made it so pervasive. Wireless mesh networks are created using technology that emits radio frequencies from point A to point B to point C, and so on until it reaches a collection point. One of the most notable benefits of a mesh network is that each point of communication is connected without a hierarchical system. This means that the RF signals automatically choose the fastest points of communication until reaching a destination, i.e. your central monitoring station.
TMA, however, has been coordinating offset frequencies in the 450 MHz commercial band for decades. The mantle of “coordinator” fell on me with the passing of Bob Bitton last July. Summer 2021 | TMA Dispatch
