A New Generation of Integrated Poles for 5G Small cell Infrastructure – Capabilities and Requirements

To make 5G wireless services a reality, small cell sites using mmWave radios will be widely installed to provide sufficient coverage. Their higher frequencies exhibit increased propagation loss that limits inter-site distances (ISD) to roughly a tenth of a mile, so 5G small cell sites must be lower to the ground and in closer proximity to one another than previous wireless generations. In dense, high-volume urban areas, 5G small cell sites will be prevalent all over busy city streets, plazas and neighborhoods, co-existing with lighting poles and other street furniture. To avoid cluttering up these urban areas, carriers, tower companies and municipalities are recognizing that the street lighting poles are obvious platforms for 5G smallcell sites.