CBRS

Citizens Broadband Radio Service

Status of CBRS

We’ve always believed in the convergence of carrier-grade Wi-Fi and cellular as the future of mobile connectivity. As we've consistently said, we have strong conviction in the long-term viability and future potential of our CBRS product. The XNET network will soon deliver a full range of cellular connectivity services—including voice, data, and e911—to a T-1 U.S. mobile carrier. A second major carrier is expected to join the program shortly after, expanding cellular access on our network to a combined 249 Million mobile subscribers nationwide. We see this development as a major milestone on the path toward wireless connectivity convergence. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. Our new onboarding process for CBRS deployments will remain selective and region-specific to ensure roaming agreement compliance. Meanwhile, existing CBRS radios on our network will continue benefiting from the XIP-11 Proof-of-Coverage emissions pool, with earnings maintained based on Hex Type and Uptime metrics.

Overview

Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is a 150 MHz-wide slice of the 3.5 GHz band (3550–3700 MHz) that has been opened up in the United States for shared commercial use. The FCC established an innovative three-tier spectrum access system for CBRS – incumbents (e.g. Navy radars), Priority Access License (PAL) holders, and General Authorized Access (GAA) users – all coordinated by a Spectrum Access System (SAS) to prevent interference (nist.gov). This framework allows organizations to utilize mid-band spectrum without owning exclusive licenses, under the condition that they coexist with and yield to higher-tier users as needed. For example, federal radar sites have top priority.

CBRS has quickly gained traction for private LTE/5G networks and other emerging use cases. In January 2020 the FCC authorized full commercial use of the band, enabling carriers and new entrants alike to deploy 4G/5G networks in CBRS without costly spectrum auctions. Key applications include fixed wireless access for rural broadband, enterprise private cellular networks, and neutral host infrastructure that improves coverage for multiple mobile operators. In essence, CBRS offers a “third path” for expanding wireless coverage: not a public macro network, not traditional WiFi, but a locally controlled cellular network operating in shared spectrum.

Complementary Role to WiFi Offload

CBRS neutral host networks complement our existing WiFi offload strategies, addressing coverage issues by adding additional integrated cellular layers. Enterprises continue leveraging both WiFi and CBRS for optimal coverage, ensuring critical services over CBRS while using WiFi for broad data. The combination supports multi-RAN environments for diverse needs, filling cellular gaps with CBRS and providing high-capacity access via WiFi, keeping all users connected regardless of device or service.