The OnGo Alliance member meeting brought together wireless leaders, service providers, and technology partners to discuss the future of CBRS and its role in shaping enterprise and critical infrastructure connectivity. The conversations painted a clear picture: CBRS isn’t just here to stay… it’s expanding in impact and importance.
The Regulatory Picture
A major focus was the ongoing debate around the regulatory future of CBRS. While several Tier 1 Telecom Carriers continue to push for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reclaim spectrum, signs point to stability, at least in the near term. The Department of War (DoW) and other federal entities do not appear interested in holding the spectrum for themselves, and both House and Senate Republicans have voiced strong support for keeping CBRS accessible through Priority Access License (PAL) and General Authorized Access (GAA). As long as the GOP holds the Oval Office, CBRS is expected to remain open for enterprise use.
Airports Leading the Way
Airports emerged as one of the most exciting verticals for CBRS adoption. From baggage claim operations and tarmac logistics to perimeter security and smart restrooms, private 5G is proving itself as a cost-effective alternative to fiber. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, for example, shared its “Airport 4.0” vision aiming to cut operational costs by 20% through advanced connectivity. Their deployments have already saved $150K by leveraging private 5G instead of fiber to each signpost.
Lessons from the Field
System integrators and technology providers are playing a critical role in this growth. At Tulsa Airport, for example, IoT and video streaming use cases are being deployed to support operations and enhance the passenger experience. Still, many projects require extensive “Day 2 Tuning” after deployment to achieve optimal performance. Norman Fekrat, CEO of Imagine Wireless, emphasized CBRS’s cost advantages compared to fiber and noted the importance of getting involved early in property development projects to make CBRS part of the core infrastructure from day one.
The Road Ahead
Finally, JMA reinforced the growing importance of CBRS by the numbers, noting that enterprise adoption is expected to outpace industrial growth. As more deployments roll out and critical infrastructure depends on CBRS, it will become increasingly difficult to pull back access to this spectrum.
In Summary
The OnGo Alliance discussions underscored what many in the industry already know: CBRS is delivering real-world value today while building momentum for tomorrow. Whether in airports, critical infrastructure, or enterprise deployments, CBRS is driving innovation, lowering costs, and strengthening the case for keeping this spectrum open and available.