The two entities will explore opportunities to identify processes for efficient implementation of small cell solutions across campuses and cities
The Small Cell Forum (SCF) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) have announced an alliance to focus on smart communities and smart buildings.
The two organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work on technical, commercial and regulatory solutions. They will also share existing work and expertise and develop solutions that simplify and accelerate deployment of dense networks and in-building connectivity.
“Every enterprise and community needs to be ‘smart’ to provide the best services and take advantage of the internet of things and other developing technologies. But this presents complex challenges which no one organization can fully address. TIA and SCF share many of the same goals and we expect this alliance to lead to significant results, especially in advancing our drive towards 5G,” David Orloff, chair of SCF, said.
“Industry collaboration is clearly needed to realize the full potential of smart communities, whether they take the form of buildings, campuses or entire cities. There are enormous opportunities to drive efficiencies, improve operational effectiveness, deliver faster and safer transportation, and more,” Brenda Boehm, chief strategy officer of TIA, said. “Working together, we will be well positioned to accelerate the development and deployment of critical micro-wireless 5G technology in the community ecosystem.”
The two organizations have already discussed the priority areas where combined efforts can lead to meaningful progress. Some specific goals include simplified regulatory regimes, especially in cities; new approaches to enterprise deployment, including neutral host; common deployment frameworks that meet the needs of all stakeholders; and, new architectures, such as virtualization.
The organizations have also agreed to explore opportunities for technical collaboration, particularly in the following areas:
-Process for efficient implementation of small cells across a campus or city;
-In-building infrastructure and wiring for smart enterprises, and
-Creation of a smart building ‘blueprint’ that can be used across the real estate market.