One’s zip code is a primary indicator of a person’s success and prosperity, but does it have to be? Success in today’s world and the future depends greatly on the ability to thrive in the digital economy. And because the digital economy isn’t bound by geography, it should provide more opportunities for more people regardless of where they live. Yet, according to the 2020 deployment report from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, 6 percent (21.3 million) of Americans do not have access to high-speed internet.
Those involved in providing communications, which includes vendors, communications service providers, and local and federal governments have the opportunity and responsibility to change this statistic. By focusing on one component contributing to inequality and acting with a specific intent, we can take meaningful steps to bridge the digital divide.
The promise and power of the intelligent rural network
For too long, rural communities have been told that it is too expensive to build high-speed networks from urban areas to their local towns, houses and farms. Yet, the demand clearly exists.
Using free high-speed Wi-Fi at rural libraries has become as popular as borrowing books in rural locations. In some towns, residents sit in their cars for hours to get online for schoolwork, to chat with friends and family and to search for jobs.
These communities need intelligent rural networks that cover not only town centers but also that “last mile” to homes and farms and mountain cabins. The power of 5G can bring them economic prosperity as well as social connectivity. An intelligent rural network has the power to transform our rural communities, providing residents with the same opportunities as those living in urban centers.
Unlocking the potential of the rural workforce
Farming in the 21st century isn’t just planting crops and looking up at the sky to gauge the next rainfall. Farmers today use a full array of drones, sensors, and other high-tech equipment to monitor crops, track weather patterns, and make decisions on when to harvest and where to sell. Big data has definitely entered the farming world and with it comes the demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity.
Not all rural communities, though, are farming communities. Some are rich in natural resources, located in mountains or near lakes with tourism potential that support local businesses and provide local employment. Servicing these areas with high-speed broadband not only increases their appeal to travelers who expect high-speed internet, but it also means the residents can bid for remote work opportunities that only fast and secure internet can support.
Leveraging the potential of 5G
The intelligent rural network will require speed, capacity, and affordability. At a minimum, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission defines high-speed internet as 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.
To create this intelligent rural network means investing in 5G technology for both wireless and fixed networks. The 5G standard empowers a broader scope of use cases than ever before, with faster speeds, wider coverage areas, and improved security from the previous 4G networks.
It’s no use building this new network if people can’t afford it. And that’s where the intelligent edge comes in. It moves real-time computing power close to where it’s generated, meaning easier deployments and lower operational costs. Combining 5G with the intelligent edge can provide the same workload performance with less overhead, resulting in significantly lower cost. And when building the intelligent rural network, keeping costs under control will be a key factor in making it affordable to everyone.
The role of communication service providers (CSPs)
Building out rural networks provides a unique opportunity for CSPs to accelerate the speed and affordability of those networks by using a combination of 5G and intelligent edge capabilities. CSPs can leverage their experience rolling out 5G in urban areas to mitigate the risks and challenges of building out into rural communities. All three of the major US wireless carriers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile/Sprint) have now launched 5G networks. With each build, they are gaining valuable experience in planning and executing 5G connectivity.
The promise of Open RAN for rural networks
RAN (Radio Access Network) is the "last mile" of a network, the visible link from the network to a mobile phone. Operators have been working to open up RAN protocols and remove the dependency on single-vendor systems. Already, large operators such as Orange, Vodafone, and MTN are planning to use virtual (vRAN) and Open RAN to bring coverage to new markets, because it provides more choices for equipment providers, lower TCO, and it is easier to upgrade parts as needed.
For rural networks where cost is a large factor in deploying new networks or upgrading outdated ones, Open RAN provides the opportunity for competitive bidding and frees CSPs to choose the best technical solutions for the situation, rather than being tied to single-vendor offerings. When talking about rural connectivity, Open RAN plus 5G create a promising combination.
Leveraging the intelligent edge and AI analytics to reduce costs
Past projects have shown that the costs involved in standing up networks over a large physical area have been considerable. Pushing the full cost of rural networks directly onto consumers would most likely render the services unaffordable to most people, which has been one of the big hurdles of providing faster, better coverage to rural areas. Intelligent rural networks can leverage powerful new technology like distributed clouds and edge computing to bring down the cost.
Rural networks will also require remote, large-scale management and monitoring. End-to-end automation and AI-based analytics as integral parts of the network design and implementation can work to lower ongoing costs, as well as keep networks up and running efficiently. Given the large geographical areas involved, these management and monitoring tools also need to work remotely so that when issues arise, they can be handled quickly by technical staff.
Conclusion
Carriers have already started activating their 5G networks, but so far, only in large urban areas. Unless we commit to nationwide coverage in all areas, our rural communities will fall further behind in the connectivity sweepstakes. Building intelligent rural networks will require strong partnerships, detailed and complex plans, and cross-industry cooperation. In the age of information, digital access is imperative to ensure every citizen has an equal opportunity to thrive. If we fail to act now, we are failing an entire future generation.
