Pivotal Commware has released a whitepaper and video demonstrating how tier-one mobile operators can use the company’s Echo 5G™ and Pivot 5G™ repeaters to increase indoor 5G mmWave coverage while reducing the cost of deployment.

Pivotal modeled a one square kilometer American suburb with seven, three-sector base stations, which were deployed in locations determined by standard radio network planning software. Once a baseline of indoor coverage was determined, Pivotal augmented the network: first, by adding more gNodeBs (gNB), then contrasting that by deploying only Echo 5G and Pivot 5G repeaters.

The incremental cost per subscriber of adding Echoes and Pivots to achieve 80 percent indoor coverage was $468, versus $1,822 to achieve the same coverage by adding 21 more gNBs.

Pivotal Commware says the analysis shows that the $100 billion pay TV market can be served by mobile operators using their mmWave spectrum.

The Echo 5G is an indoor repeater with precision beamforming, which is self-installed on the subscriber’s window. It counteracts signal penetration, reflection and structural shadowing losses to cover an interior room with mmWave signal.

The Pivot 5G outdoor repeater captures and redirects mmWave signals around obstacles like buildings to extend the range of gNBs. With no need for a fiber connection, its small size, easy permitting and low power consumption, the outdoor repeater eases siting and deployment, reducing operator capital and operating expenses.

Brian Deutsch, CEO of Pivotal Commware, said, “Criticism has mounted regarding the cost and projected ROI for network operators putting a significant stake in mmWave, but our simulation tells a different story. The challenge has always been clear for operators, and while sub-6 GHz bands have been suggested as the better option, that spectrum is limited and will unquestionably lead to expensive network densification to meet subscriber expectations over time. mmWave offers an unparalleled leap forward in user experience from the beginning, and when deployed in conjunction with our HBF repeater technology, operators can increase subscriber reach while better managing network economics, thus minimizing the need to over-deploy costly, fiber-connected gNBs.”

In a demonstration at Super Bowl 2020, Pivotal repeaters delivered speeds greater than 1.7 Gbps where no connection was previously available.