Integrating 5G Into The Urban Landscape

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City planners continually face challenges concerning the rollout of new technology. Their job is ultimately to improve the lives of the city residents as well as to attract opportunities for businesses to flourish in their region, while also improving the aesthetic nature of the city. Nobody wants to live in an area that is technologically advanced but looks cold and robotic, so the challenges facing officials on ways to integrate technological advances into the cityscape are numerous. This is especially true when those advancements also involve the significant expansion of communications networks in order to improve upon an existing system.

In the case of the upgrade from 4G to 5G in urban environments, the previous generations of cellular technology primarily utilized macro cell sites that could be positioned a mile or more from one another and still provide complete coverage and connectivity. The new 5G high-frequency signals are significantly faster but the nodes need to be positioned closer together to maintain achieve optimum connectivity. They also need to be closer to the devices themselves, so at street level, to effectively send and receive 5G signals. To illustrate the magnitude of this increase, 5G small cell sites must be positioned one-tenth of a mile apart to maintain the same connectivity rates as 4G sites positioned a mile or more apart.

This increases the number of small cell sites that must be added to a network, multiplying the equipment involved by more than six times. While the benefits of 5G in urban environments are obvious, with increased access to higher resolution video, more financial and entertainment options available, and educational opportunities brought closer to home, the desire not to create an unsightly landscape also is important. This is why the latest technological advances from Raycap in the concealment industry are so important.

Raycap is now offering multiple solutions to conceal 5G small site equipment. Their STEALTH product lines include streetlight poles, side-mounted equipment shrouds, rooftop panels, and more as integration points for 5G radios, antennas, and components in the network. Raycap STEALTH design engineers will work with carriers, real estate owners, and city officials to offer solutions that create a safer, more pleasing environment by concealing network infrastructure equipment within a wide variety of different concealment options. All individual components in a small cell site are connected to an AC power disconnect which is connected to a power meter, providing safety and access to utilities.

Built-in surge protection and the ability to disconnect easily when repairs or upgrades are necessary to help utility personnel service the small cell sites whenever needed. By combining and standardizing many components, typically found in two or more boxes on a wall or streetlight pole, the landscape is more attractive and safety and ease of maintenance are increased for those working around them. Using Raycap’s InvisiWave^® solution to conceal the 5G mmWave radios and antenna, signals can effectively be received/transmitted while the hardware is hidden. The commonly used mmWave frequencies used in 5G networks have been proven to effectively pass through Raycap’s InvisiWave, assuring that the signals are not compromised. The “smart city” of the future is here, and 5G is rolling out in your area without even being noticed.

The Complications Of 5G Concealment

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It is expected that there will be an increase in small cell sites from the roughly 86,000 that were recorded in 2018 to more than 800,000 by 2026. This is due to the ever-increasing demand for 5G services within urban environments, which creates unique challenges. High-quality scalable manufacturing of the components necessary to roll out this increased level of services and connectivity will be necessary, and this brings unique challenges that call for creative solutions. To create an expansive and reliable 5G network, small cell sites using mmWave radios and antennae will be called upon to provide much of the coverage in dense urban areas.

These devices utilize higher frequencies and as a result, exhibit increased propagation loss over long distances. This means that the distances between small cell sites will be smaller and the sites closer together, to within one-tenth of a mile of one another. It also requires them to be lower to the ground than the previous generation of wireless equipment. Because of these factors, there is a need for a significantly increased number of installations at positions that are far more visually obvious to people at ground level. Thus,  the need for both creative and technologically advanced concealment options grows.

In dense, high-volume urban areas 5G small cell sites are going to become far more prevalent. You may notice them cropping up in neighborhoods, on city streets, and in historic areas. They will co-exist with the current network of lighting poles as well as street furniture installed for other purposes and must be integrated in ways that do not create a visual imbalance with the existing infrastructure environment or the beauty of the cityscape. In many ways, the integration of 5G equipment onto and inside streetlight poles is the most obvious solution – one that will not disrupt the look of a neighborhood or landscape. These structures are something that citizens are already used to seeing, and they offer the least amount of change in the scenery since many streetlight poles and telephone poles already exist and are outfitted with equipment.

Fully or partially integrated and concealed poles will be able to combine all elements necessary to the infrastructure as well as fully conceal a small cell site. The STEALTH concealed small cell pole manufactured by Raycap is available in a variety of options and can integrate all equipment either in or on it using inside cavities or shrouds. The small cell poles also mount 4G Radios or 5G antennas/radios in the pole topper or “radome”, to optimize performance while also easing concealment challenges. Pole toppers are optimal ways to conceal radiating equipment, and when used in conjunction with Raycap’s InvisiWave^® material that does not interfere with 5G mmWave signals, they provide the coverage and performance that is necessary to create an unobtrusive small cell network that is also functionally advanced.

With small cell sites destined to be positioned on many city or suburban blocks soon, the aesthetics and high performance of the concealed equipment must work in unison to create a situation where function does not override form. Raycap is leading the way with its ambitious STEALTH line of concealment products. The overall goal is to help create a fully functional 5G network that is hidden from plain sight. Raycap is leading this charge, and success will mean you will not see us in the future!

The Difficulties Of A 5G Rollout

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5G is changing the landscape in many urban areas where poor internet and phone connectivity have hindered the capabilities of residents. Improvements to the lives of inner-city Americans depends heavily on access to information, educational opportunities, banking and high-definition video. In order for these types of services to become more prevalent and more useful for people in densely packed urban areas, the rollout of 5G networks is critical. 5G offers a speed and bandwidth boost over 4G connectivity that can make the difference between access to useful information and a blackout of service to an entire area. Luckily, the rollout of 5G connectivity and services is beginning to happen in many major metropolitan areas, with city planners working diligently on not only the technological aspects but also the methods of supplying the connectivity in the most unobtrusive way possible. This has to be considered carefully with respect to a particular urban environment because 5G small cell sites must be placed far closer together than those supporting the previous cellular generations. 4G equipment has been primarily placed on macro towers that can roughly one mile or more apart in order to provide adequate connectivity, without dead spots and dropped service areas. The higher frequency 5G signals need to be considerably closer together in order to provide a similar level of connectivity, with small cell nodes needing to be around one-tenth of a mile apart for optimum coverage. This means that roughly six times the amount of 5G small cell sites are necessary in order to provide consistent coverage within an area. Integrating this large amount of additional equipment into a densely packed urban environment is difficult, and the fact that the small cell sites need to be closer to the ground puts them directly in the visual plane. This is where the creative and technologically advanced solutions from Raycap come into play.

The STEALTH suite of products offers a variety of different small cell pole, shroud, topper and screen wall options all suitable for installation in dense urban environments. These specialized concealment structures allow for all of the cell site equipment to be concealed and connected. An AC Disconnect enables installation on site and allows utilities to access the power and meter with ease. This Raycap equipment also allows utility workers to safely access the power within the small cell site in order to provide service upgrades and/or maintenance. The InvisiWave® materials enables 5G mmWave signals to pass through without degradation or signal loss, giving the small cell network the ability to provide a consistent connectivity for those using the network. Through the integration network infrastructure equipment and concealment, Raycap is enabling the rollout of 5G connectivity to areas that may have been underserved in the past, while also providing a streamlined and aesthetically pleasing integration of the equipment. Through these advancements, city planners and carriers bringing 5G to the masses in a way that will not significantly change the visual landscape, and allowing improvements in services to enhance connectivity and improve the quality of life for inner city dwellers.

The Options For 5G Small Cell Concealment

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The effective rollout of 5G mmWave networks depends on the ability to not only place small cell sites within one-tenth of a mile of one another to avoid dead areas, but also the ability to safely conceal these sites. The first issue is a technical one, brought about by the higher frequencies of 5G mmWave frequencies and the fact that they will exhibit increased propagation loss the farther distance they travel. This creates a significant limitation on the ISD (inter-site distances) that can be maintained and still provide complete coverage. Previous wireless generations were able to be placed higher on structures while still maintaining effectiveness, with 5G mmWave equipment needing to be lower to the ground to offer the same connectivity. In a nutshell, this means more small cell nodes within the network that will be in the visual range of people at ground level, ultimately making it necessary to conceal the sites in order not to create an unsightly landscape. In dense urban areas this becomes even more challenging as the demand for coverage increases with higher populations, yet the desire to not compromise the visual integrity of historic areas or urban beautification projects remains strong. The most obvious answers to this dilemma have come in the form of concealed or partially concealed streetlight poles loaded up with equipment.

The existing grid of streetlights that are in metropolitan areas are a necessity, and in many ways help to define the aesthetic of the area. Through the consistent use of complimentary materials, colors and designs these poles are not only functional but are also an asset to help create the defining tone within a region of the city. An “integrated small cell pole” utilizes structures similar to these to incorporate the equipment needed for the 5G network. Due to their proximity to the street and one another, they represent the perfect opportunity to position small cell sites within the needed range to achieve effective network coverage. Concealed small cell STEALTH pole solutions from Raycap effectively conceal the connectivity equipment including 5G mmWave radios/antennas, 4G radios and antenna, all the cabling and other necessary equipment including AC disconnect and surge protection devices. Concealment solutions mimic the architecture of the region in which they are positioned and the 4G/5G antennas and radios are positioned at the pole top to optimize the performance of the network. Pole topper concealments or “radomes” are available on existing poles with equipment shrouds attached, or as a part of a fully concealed and integrated pole solution. By deploying Raycap’s “InvisiWave” material as the concealment for the pole topper, 5G mmWave antenna and radio signals are virtually unaffected. The radome toppers are large enough to conceal one or more antenna or radios in a manner that it is not blocked by potentially interfering materials or enclosures while still maintaining the aesthetic condition of the landscape. The pole topper can be designed according to carrier requirements to host different brands of 5G mmWave radios, and can allow both existing and future implementations as upgrades become necessary. Either through the mounting of new integrated poles for 5G concealment, the utilization of existing poles with pole toppers and side mounted shrouds, or through the use of InvisiWave apertures on side-mounted enclosures that blend in with the buildings on which they are installed, through concealment options 5G can exist in even the most historic areas without compromising the aesthetic.

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One of the biggest challenges for city planners is the implementation of technology solutions that do not have a significant impact on the aesthetic beauty of a downtown or neighborhood. Especially in historical regions, people are not willing to sacrifice the charm of a city simply to provide technological advancement, which is why urban planning is a balance between the two. Urban areas cannot exist in a time warp, never improving their infrastructure or way of life for their citizens, but also they cannot move so far technologically that the areas lose their charm, which has happened far too often.

This is one of the major difficulties concerning what is potentially the biggest development in recent history about cellular networks and the availability of information. The “smart city” will rely upon fast internet connections and edge services to provide all of the solutions that people and devices will require in the next 20 years. Slower internet and low bandwidth will not be able to manage all the data that will be available. Citizens want access to entertainment and high-definition video, banking, educational tools, and business opportunities that are all dependent upon fast internet with lots of bandwidth. The rollout of 5G networks in urban areas promises to advance regions that once were underserved. The problem is not with the 5G technology, it is that the physical network must be upgraded to manage all that data.

4G technology was mostly installed on “macro” tower sites that could be installed within one or more miles of one another and remain fully operable, without loss of coverage. 5G utilizes different and in some cases higher frequencies that propagate more quickly, but only span about one-tenth of a mile. So, when carriers are rolling out their new 5G networks within densely packed urban areas, they need to place more than 6 times the amount of small cell sites than the previous generations of cellular technology needed. 5G also requires that the nodes of the network be mounted closer to the ground to provide the connectivity and services needed.

Because of the potential aesthetic blights that this much equipment mounted externally in a cityscape would cause, Raycap developed advanced concealment solutions marketed under its STEALTH brand. A new generation of concealed small-cell products promises to streamline the approval process as well as the installation of small-cell nodes within a city landscape, all with the intent of providing citizens with the benefits of 5G. One solution Raycap is providing is specially designed and engineered streetlight small cell poles that can be concealed, partially concealed, or fully integrated and concealed, depending on the needs of the carrier, its construction partners, and the city. In these solutions, all of the radios and antennas, ancillary equipment, and power cables are accounted for and provided in the concealed small cell pole. At the pole top, the antenna and radios in a concealed pole would be behind an InvisiWave^® topper or “radome”, enabling the transmission and reception of 5g mmWave signals.

InvisiWave is Raycap’s concealment material that was engineered to enable 5G mmWave signals to pass through with little or no degradation. When connected to the rest of the infrastructure equipment in or on the pole, including Raycap’s AC disconnect systems with electrical surge protection, the optimum 5G small cell node is created. The STEALTH integrated small cell poles from Raycap are designed to enable installation, upgrades, and repairs more efficiently and safely. With the integration of Raycap’s STEALTH and InvisiWave products into a downtown or neighborhood, the smart city can not only be functional but can also be beautiful.

The Streamlining Of A 5G Rollout

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The 5G small cell rollout happening across the entire world is creating issues with regard to both functionality as well as aesthetics. This is happening for a simple reason, there is a significant amount of equipment involved in the installation of a 5G small cell site, and there needs to be a lot more of them than previous 4G networks. As a matter of fact, the current amount of 154,000 small cell sites that are in existence as of 2019 is expected to increase 5X to more than 800,000 by 2026. Aside from the increasing demand for 5G connectivity by customers, the reason there are so many small cell sites predicted to be installed is because of connectivity. The higher frequencies involved in 5G have a shorter propagation distance than 4G macro towers, and to create a seamless network without dead spots small cells generally need to be within one tenth of a mile of one another.  The increased number of installations that is necessary calls for the utilization of existing structures at street level so as to not overwhelm the aesthetics of a region in a negative way with lots of new structures. This is why the obvious choice to use streetlight poles as small cell sites makes sense. Raycap has solutions to both  safely and aesthetically address how small cell sites are designed and they work with carriers, real estate partners and municipalities to develop the best fit concealment solutions for these sites.

An interesting and not inconsequential aspect of 5G small site installations is the need for AC power that must run to the components involved. Since Raycap are experts at both concealments and power management solutions, it only made sense for them to develop products that support the power needs at small cell installations. Each installation will have multiple radios, some operating on different 5G bands. There are also radios that will fill in blind spots through providing 4G services. Each radio needs AC power and fiber backhaul connectivity. When combined with the antennas and other ancillary equipment that is used at small cell sites, all being mounted directly overhead of pedestrians, one can easily see the issues regarding power management. Utility workers needing to make installations, upgrades and repairs are also in contact with these installations. The new combo AC disconnect units from Raycap combine and standardize the installation of electrical equipment into a slimline aesthetically pleasing unit that can also be adapted to blend into the background of whatever it is being placed upon. The units are designed to bring the power in from the bottom of the enclosure and then up into the equipment above it inside the pole, solving the issue of unsightly wires being run up the poles and to the equipment. The AC disconnect allows the power service to be easily disconnected when necessary, contains an area for a power meter and electrical surge protection. It brings the power from the disconnect to a load center and distributes it through multiple breakers and ultimately to the equipment necessary in the small cell installation. Through the use of Raycap’s combo disconnect enclosures, the 5G rollout becomes more streamlined and standardized, as well as safer.

Urban Planning Challenges and 5G

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The ongoing rollout of 5G wireless services across metropolitan areas is creating both challenges and opportunities for urban planners and city officials. Within already congested regions where citizens, buildings and infrastructure elements are densely packed together, the additional integration of 5G connectivity poses issues. While the benefits of 5G networks are obvious, with faster speeds and higher bandwidths allowing for ultra-high definition video, access to educational and entertainment services from any region, as well as financial service access in regions where there are no banks physically present, we find that the technological rollout of 5G networks poses some significant challenges. Part of this is due to the limited distances that some high frequency 5G signals can travel without being diminished, and connections weakened or dropped completely. The traditional 4G macro cell site can maintain distances of more than a mile without connection loss, but 5G mm Wave cell sites must be placed within less than one tenth of that distance to achieve the same connectivity. 5G mmWave small cell sites also must be lower to the ground in order to provide the necessary connectivity, meaning there must be from 6 to 12 more 5G cell sites in a region than previous 4G iterations. This need for such an increased number of sites in order to maintain reliable connectivity poses issues for those in charge of development of city landscapes, both from a safety and aesthetic standpoint.

In order to advance urban regions to “smart city” levels through the rollout of fully covered areas of 5G connectivity, city planners are finding a key to success through the utilization of a staple on city streets, the streetlight pole. Through the use of this street fixture, the integration of 5G equipment can be achieved within the positions it needs to be and at the distances necessary for optimum connectivity. New lighting poles and other concealment solutions can be designed by Raycap design engineers with input from the carrier, real estate partner, integration partner and the municipality, allowing for a final product that the citizens will approve and will also complete the carrier’s mission of installing a 5G network. By concealing all the 5G site components and radios with designs that support the technology, such as InvisiWave®, Raycap’s material which can be used to conceal 5G mmWave radios and antenna with little to no signal degradation, both the carrier and the city’s needs are being met. Raycap’s STEALTH products are defined by a wide array of solutions, not only streetlight poles, but also side-mounted boxes or enclosures painted and made to blend in with an existing building, rooftop screens and side-mounted shrouds accompanied by pole toppers or “radomes”. All of these solutions are at the disposal of the carrier and the municipality and are presently being installed in many different municipalities in the United States. By providing solutions for the concealment of equipment, the 5G “smart city” is no longer a dream of the future, it is here today.

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One of the biggest hindrances to the more widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the United States is the difficulties in locating charging stations.  Tesla has spent a significant amount of time and effort as well as funds to create a private network of supercharging stations that will ultimately boost the sales of their vehicles due to their wide accessibility. Tesla has deployed fast charging technology methods which decreases the charging time for their vehicles (and others only if they have a specific adapter) significantly over what is expected at the current time. This hindrance to the remainder of the electric vehicle market has caused a slower adoption of these types of vehicles in the United States, and although there is a push from both environmentalists as well as government agencies to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions, we still face a profitability issue. For private industry to roll out expanded installations of electric vehicle charging stations, there needs to be more electric vehicles on the road. 

The desire to get EV manufacturing and sales to over the current 2% of the market in the US is impacted by the lack of available charging stations. This vicious circle will need government intervention to move forward. That intervention is here in the form of the two trillion dollar infrastructure bill that is being pushed by President Joe Biden. It’s uncertain at this time the fate of this infrastructure bill, even though a majority of Americans would welcome it, congress will have to find a way to move forward. With the adoption of the EV part of this program, President Biden believes that there can be more than 500,000 fast-charging electric vehicle charging stations installed throughout the United States by 2030.  This infrastructure will need significant cooperation from the private sector which can project profitability within the industry, as well as count on tax incentives and grants to help build out this charging infrastructure.

The cost of the level-three charging station can be between 120 and $260,000 to install, and even though it is projected that these fast chargers will be able to deliver an 80% capacity within 10 minutes, their high cost of both installation and operation and slower development of the technologies needed has created a slow rollout. If the Bill passes, through the public and private sector cooperation it is projected that the electric vehicle market will be able to significantly increase as well as provide profitability for the companies involved. There are currently around 41,400 charging stations in the United States, and fewer than 5000 of them are fast chargers. When compared to the 136,400 gas stations, the issue regarding private businesses expanding their footprints to include charging stations is clear. Until more electric vehicles are put on the road, the mainstream businesses involved in providing the charges will move forward very slowly.

Through the reduction of operating costs, the incentive of profitability is greater.  It has been shown that the integration of technology such as the advanced surge protection devices offered by Raycap to the industry can significantly reduce operational costs over time through the avoidance of damage as a result of electrical surges and lightning strikes. Raycap is leading the charge to the adoption of more charging stations in the United States.

Electric Vehicle Adoption Rates Are Slowed By Private Industry
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As part of the two trillion dollar infrastructure bill that is being advanced through the United States government at this point, tax incentives and rebates for electric vehicle buyers as well as those involved in the industry are one of the premier aspects. The desire to convert more vehicles that are on the road in the United States to electric has been in play for many years, advancing slowly but not fast enough to have a meaningful impact on climate change. At the current date only 2% of the 17,000,000 cars that are sold every year in the United States are electric. While each major vehicle manufacturer is offering an electric vehicle at this point, more must be done in order to change the trajectory of consumer point of view in order to achieve their goals. Solutions must be provided that will make the ownership of an electric vehicle easier for people in the United States, and although Tesla has made great strides in solving the major issues for their own customers, these advances in technology have not helped the industry is a whole. Tesla has done what they have done in order to sell more of their own vehicles, and the solutions that have been developed are exclusive for their own products. Aside from the stylishness and power levels that are achieved by Tesla vehicles, one of the main improvements that has been made has been in the availability of charging stations and the swiftness with which those stations can charge your car. Tesla has created a completely autonomous network of fast charging stations that will serve Tesla vehicles (and others only with a special adapter) and will provide a full charge in around half an hour’s time. This same timeframe must be achieved within a wider range of universal fast charging stations in order to advance general electric vehicle ownership with United States consumers, and there must be more of them to make charging more convenient. At the current time there are only 41,400 electric vehicle charging stations in the United States and fewer than 5000 are able to provide an 80% charge in less than ½ hour. In order to create a wider network of fast chargers, the government has realized that they must infuse benefits into the private sector which will encourage the building of more fast charging stations. Level-three chargers cost nearly $250,000 to install and are expensive to operate. A consideration in the maintenance of these fast charging stations is the damage that can result from lightning strikes and overvoltage events coming from the grid. In addition to the incentives that the government is offering, private industries are providing technologically advanced solutions which will also bring down the costs of operation. Raycap has done its part to develop technologically advanced power surge protection devices that can be integrated into the footprint of a vehicle charging stations, ultimately driving down the ongoing cost of operations over time. This can help to increase profitability as the market continues to grow and push forward towards the goal of 500,000 charging stations nationwide before 2030.