Site Count Estimates for Wireless Cellular-like Services

across 305 MSAs within the

licensed MEAs

One of Two Models Examined for the Access Spectrum Project

Site count estimation techniques should recognize what network deployment model is being considered. Two types have been discussed.

1. Cellular deployments where large numbers of small devices may be either mobile or nomadic and frequently transfer packet data across the radio access network.

2. Wireless Wide Area deployments where the radio access network consists of BTS with typically omni antenna coverage reaching out for many miles to remote terminals which are fixed high power devices employing directional antennas mounted at elevated heights. Compared to the cellular model these remote terminals are sparse and transact less data.

This review and accompanying spreadsheet address the first scenario.

The results are based on varying assumptions.

Coverage criteria (in-building, in-car, or vehicular/outdoor)

Cell Edge performance

Quantity and extent of MSA coverage

Overview

The area of coverage modeled for this exercise includes all MSAs within the licensed MEAs. These MSAs are colored in blue below. BTS count estimates are provide for; a) 100% of this MSA area, b) area coverage similar to Tier-1 mobile carriers, and c) 50% population coverage for minimal license protection requirements.

Cellular-like coverage – within the MSAs

3

In this edition of site count estimation we have assumed a cellular network architecture.

The radio access network consists of tri-sector BTS with high-gain antennas supporting packet services to small remote terminals. These subscriber stations are lower power devices, typically 200 mW, employing embedded non-directional antennas. The network is therefore uplink limited. The spectrum allows a N=4 reuse plan to minimize interference.

Network Architecture

4

Site Estimate Table for coverage of all 306 MSAs

We have investigated how variations of in-building coverage, in-car coverage or coverage to vehicular antennas affect the aggregate site count for a MSA national

footprint. Those coverage criteria are represented by three tabular columns.

Also of consideration is maximum UL data rate at the cell edge. To achieve the maximum rate the subscriber-unit’s PA must simultaneously transmit on all

OFDMA tones in the bandwidth. This is rarely a real application requirement and escalates site counts. So we consider sub-channel UL assignments to increase cell range. The table shows results for the analysis with UL transmissions employing

125 KHz and 250 KHz bandwidth.

A national MSA footprint might cover 100% of the MSA land area, or an area competitive to mobile carriers, or just enough MSA coverage to satisfy FCC

substantial service requirements. Those insights are presented as rows in the table.

The next slide presents the site estimate table.

These tables are derived in the spreadsheet “MSA CovArea and Site Count v6.xlsx”.

5

6

Notes:

1. First 4 columns relate to handheld devices. Last two columns represent vehicular or point-of-sale subscriber units.

2. 125 KHz UL transmission allows extended coverage range compared to 250 KHz transmission and therefore a lower site count. Additional site count reduction could be gained if 50 or 100 KHz were considered.

a. This is a cell-edge planning parameter pertaining to ~30% of the cell. Subscriber units at closer range and/or not in-building will employ higher bandwidth and modulation schemes and attain highest rates.

3. Additional link budget and path loss parameters are reviewed in the addendums.

BTS Site Count – Cellular Network Architecture

In-building

Coverage

In-car

Coverage

In-building

Coverage

In-car

Coverage

Employing

500KHz UL

bandwidth

Employing

250KHz UL

bandwidth

Coverage of entire MSA, all MSAs 82,141 28,822 122,778 43,223 2,606 1,738

Subset of above coverage to reach >50%

Pops for FCC SS (130 of 305 MSAs)57,900 19,164 86,484 28,715 1,741 1,163

MSA Coverage equal to Tier-1, all MSAs 25,239 9,017 37,736 13,526 814 543

Subset of above coverage to reach >50%

Pops for FCC SS (130 of 305 MSAs)17,256 5,817 25,782 8,718 528 352

Based on 3W Subscriber Units,

Such as Vehicular (on-car antenna)

or Outdoor Point-of-Sale

Site Count Estimates

Based on Handheld

Subscriber Units, with 200mW

power over 125KHz UL

Based on Handheld

Subscriber Units, with 200mW

power over 250KHz UL

Area of coverage

7

Summary

A BTS site estimate has been given with variances as follows;

1. Number and extent of MSAs covered

2. In-building or In-car coverage criteria

3. Reduced cell edge rates via 125 or 250 KHz UL bandwidths

These results along with equipment and installation costs (not in-scope) will be sufficient inputs to a business model.

8

Addendums

9

Link Budget Parameter Discussion

LB parameters are shown below, but with Remote TX Power adjusted to 200 mW as typical of small portable devices. These device also have embedded antennas with negative gain and a body loss is also assumed as is standard for handset type devices.

The BTS antenna is now assumed to be a high gain sector/panel antenna.

The UL channel BW (for cell-edge) is reduced as is standard for handset type devices.

The “bottom line” is the Maximum Path Loss allowed.

Remote to Base Link budget Comment

Remote TX power (watts) 0.2 This assumes Handheld device PA

Remote TX power (dBm) 23.0 FS remote can actually trasmit upto 40 dBm but CINR PA linearity is reduced

Remote to antenna cable loss 0.1 This asssumes LDF4-50A with 6.456 dB/100 meters

Remote Antenna gain (dBi) -4.0 This assumes in-device omni

Body loss (dB) 3.0 This assumes Handheld device

Base antenna gain (dBi) 17.0 this assumes tri-sector sites, not wide area omnis

Base cable Loss (dB) 2.6 This assumes Andrew AVA6-50 with 2.507 dB/100 meters

Channel bandwidth (KHz) 125 Remote unit is Txing on this BW, could be 500KHz, 250KHz or…

Channel bandwidth (dB) 51.0

Noise floor (dBm) -123.0

Noise figure (dB) 5

Minimum CINR Required for BER < 10 EXP-6 (dB) 5 This assumes QPSK 1/2 with repetition 1. We also support Repetition 2 which gets us to CINR > 3 dB

Base reciever sensitivity (dBm) -113.0

UL Max Path Loss 143.3

10

Path Loss Model Review

Path Loss Model used in this exercise is Hata model. Standard for 700, 850 MHz wireless planning.

The link budget’s maximum allowable path loss is reduced by a fade margin that also includes a loss for building or car penetration.

And as typical in cellular networks the four morphologies have differing parameters.

Path Loss Model - Hata Handheld device, 0.2 W, 125 KHz BW, -4dBi

Morphology Correction Factor Dense Urban Urban Suburban Rural

Base Station antenna height (m) 25 35 45 55

Mobile antenna height (m) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

Correction Factor a(hm), (dB) 0.01066 0.01066 0.01066 0.01066

Frequency (MHz) 787.5 787.5 787.5 787.5

Morphology Correction Factor 0 -3 -12 -20

K1 126.0 121.0 110.5 101.3

K2 35.7 34.8 34.1 33.5

Probability of Coverage at Cell Edge (%) 90% 90% 90% 90%

Probability of Coverage over entire cell 96% 96% 96% 96%

In-Building Coverage

Log Normal Standard Deviation, (dB) 8.94 8.94 8.94 8.94

Mean Penetration Loss, dB (Car, Bldg, or Outdoor) 18 15 12 6

Log Normal Fade Margin (dB) 29.5 26.5 23.5 17.5

Path Loss from Link Budget (dB) 143.3 143.3 143.3 143.3

Maximum Allowable Path Loss (dB) 113.8 116.8 119.8 125.8

Cell range (km) 0.46 0.76 1.88 5.42

Cell range (miles) 0.28 0.47 1.17 3.37

BTS coverage (mile 2̂) 0.2 0.4 2.7 22.1

In-Car Coverage

Log Normal Standard Deviation, (dB) 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00

Mean Penetration Loss, dB (Car, Bldg, or Outdoor) 5 5 5 5

Log Normal Fade Margin (dB) 15.3 15.3 15.3 15.3

Path Loss from Link Budget (dB) 143.3 143.3 143.3 143.3

Maximum Allowable Path Loss (dB) 128.0 128.0 128.0 128.0

Cell range (km) 1.1 1.6 3.3 6.3

Cell range (miles) 0.7 1.0 2.0 3.9

BTS coverage (mile 2̂) 1.0 1.9 8.1 29.9

11

Single Cell Coverage Calculations

Once “Distance” or coverage radius is obtained standard coverage area is calculated for an embedded cell.

In this cellular network architecture, the geometry for the tri-sector BTS is used.

12

Site Count Calculations

Single Cell Coverage Area is then compared to MSA coverage area goals for the site count on a per MSA area. These MSA results are aggregated to gain the total site count estimate. These total where presented in the main section of this document and are also found in the Summary tab of the embedded spreadsheet.

37,106 3.3 82,141 57,900 25,239 17,256

MEA MEA_Name MSA MSA_Name Population % of MEA PopsCumulative %

of MEA Pops Area

Tier-1 Provider

Covered Area

Tier-1 Provider

3G Macro Site

Count

Urban

Coverage

Target (sq.

mi.)

Suburban

Coverage

Target (sq.

mi.)

Rural

Coverage

Target (sq.

mi.)

Covered

Area/Site,

as Mkt Avg

CA/Site,

as theoretical

Coverage

Bump

Based on Handheld

SUs with, 125KHz

UL, In-building

Coverage of entire

MSA

Subset of

<<

for Substantial

Service

Based on Handheld

SUs with, 125KHz

UL, In-building

Coverage of MSA

equal to Tier-1

carrier (using

Coverage Bump)

Subset of

<<

for Substantial

Service

1 Boston 6 Boston 4,455,037 46.2% 46.2% 3299 3230 633 320 1133 1777 5.1 1.8 2.8 1,240 1,240 441 441

1 Boston 38 Providence 948,790 9.8% 56.1% 996 980 158 29 96 855 6.2 2.8 2.2 141 141 63 63

1 Boston 55 Worcester 808,280 8.4% 64.4% 1577 1560 171 21 226 1313 9.1 3.3 2.8 192 0 70 0

1 Boston 76 New Bedford 547,603 5.7% 70.1% 589 580 74 27 219 334 7.8 3.3 2.4 160 0 67 0

1 Boston 133 Manchester 403,823 4.2% 74.3% 890 619 73 10 84 525 8.5 3.2 2.7 79 0 30 0

1 Boston 156 Portsmouth 316,138 3.3% 77.6% 1402 1328 64 3 80 1245 20.8 7.0 3.0 94 0 31 0

1 Boston 152 Portland 311,451 3.2% 80.8% 1238 1191 73 6 58 1126 16.3 6.3 2.6 87 0 34 0

1 Boston 224 Bangor 155,321 1.6% 82.4% 3547 388 20 15 42 330 19.4 6.5 3.0 64 0 22 0

1 Boston 279 Lewiston 109,991 1.1% 83.6% 496 321 18 2 13 306 17.8 8.5 2.1 23 0 11 0

2 New York City 1 New York 16,717,963 51.8% 51.8% 4291 3947 2156 962 723 2262 1.8 0.5 3.9 2,580 2,580 660 660

2 New York City 32 Hartford 1,219,433 3.8% 55.6% 1552 1549 260 49 266 1234 6.0 2.2 2.7 267 267 100 100

2 New York City 34 Rochester 1,063,594 3.3% 58.9% 2968 2249 149 58 204 1987 15.1 7.0 2.2 300 300 139 139

2 New York City 42 Bridgeport 928,186 2.9% 61.7% 652 642 146 95 329 217 4.4 1.6 2.8 352 0 125 0

2 New York City 44 Albany 894,428 2.8% 64.5% 2658 1954 127 41 216 1697 15.4 6.2 2.5 252 0 101 0

2 New York City 49 New Haven 863,393 2.7% 67.2% 623 618 152 84 342 192 4.1 1.5 2.8 330 0 119 0

2 New York City 58 Allentown 836,057 2.6% 69.8% 1476 1395 159 23 156 1216 8.8 3.4 2.6 167 0 64 0

Census Data Industry DataMarkets Industry Observations Site Estimations

13

Site Cost Estimates

RAN SITES COSTS

Tri-sector Omni

Network Services

RF Design 2,955 1,478

Mobilization/Drive Test 725 725

Site Integration 3,300 1,650

Field Coordination 1,300 1,300

Network Optimization 1,410 705

9,690 5,858

Site Development (Acquisition / Zoning)

Site Identification 2,900 2,900

Leasing 3,000 3,000

Title Review 1,350 1,350

Zoning/BP 3,200 3,200

Filing Fees 1,000 1,000

A&E 6,855 6,855

Compliance 6,300 6,300

Structural. Analysis 1,200 1,200

25,805 25,805

Site Preparation (Construction)

Management 3,200 3,200

Construction 22,655 11,328

Power 4,225 4,225

Installation 13,885 6,943

43,965 25,695

Equipment w/E&F

BTS 42,500 14,167

Cabinet 15,000 15,000

Antennas & Lines 8,900 2,967

66,400 32,133

Total w/out Backhaul $145,860 $89,491

MICROWAVE BACKHAUL SITES COSTS

Tri-sector Omni

Initial Carrier

Design / Facilitation

LOS 1,425 1,425

Freq coordination 650 650

PCN 470 470

FCC Licensing 1,280 1,280

Install/Commission Link 7,500 7,500

11,325 11,325

Equipment w/E&F

Switch 3,464 3,464

Radios/Antennas 14,250 14,250

SNMP install NRC 300 300

Cables/ mounts 1,550 1,550

19,564 19,564

Total Backhaul $30,889 $30,889

Links per Site (adjustment to include relays)

Allocated Backhaul Per Site $46,334 $46,334

Site Recurring Costs

Site Leases 1,500 500

Site Utilities 175 175

Site Maintenance 500 500

Total Monthly Rec. Cost $2,175 $1,175

Leased Ethernet Transport 1,500 1,500

Total Monthly Rec. Cost with Ethernet $3,675 $2,675

1.50

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Site Cost Estimate Roll-up

RAN with Microwave BH

Tri-sector Omni

Capex $192,194 $135,824

Opex (annual) $26,100 $14,100

RAN with Leased Ethernet

Tri-sector Omni

Capex $145,860 $89,491

Opex (annual) $44,100 $32,100

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Site Count with Cost Estimate

Site Count

Capex ($M, Mw|Eth) $15,787 $11,981 $5,539 $4,204 $23,597 $17,908 $8,307 $6,305 $501 $380 $334 $254

Opex (annual $M) $2,144 $3,622 $752 $1,271 $3,205 $5,415 $1,128 $1,906 $68 $115 $45 $77

Site Count

Capex ($M, Mw|Eth) $11,128 $8,445 $3,683 $2,795 $16,622 $12,615 $5,519 $4,188 $335 $254 $223 $170

Opex (annual $M) $1,511 $2,553 $500 $845 $2,257 $3,814 $749 $1,266 $45 $77 $30 $51

Site Count

Capex ($M, Mw|Eth) $4,851 $3,681 $1,733 $1,315 $7,253 $5,504 $2,600 $1,973 $156 $119 $104 $79

Opex (annual $M) $659 $1,113 $235 $398 $985 $1,664 $353 $596 $21 $36 $14 $24

Site Count

Capex ($M, Mw|Eth) $3,316 $2,517 $1,118 $848 $4,955 $3,761 $1,676 $1,272 $101 $77 $68 $51

Opex (annual $M) $450 $761 $152 $257 $673 $1,137 $228 $384 $14 $23 $9 $16

814

528 352

543

1,163

Site Count & Cost Estimates

9,017 37,736 13,526

8,71825,7825,817

2,606

Employing 250KHz UL

bandwidth1,738

57,900 19,164 86,484 28,715 1,741

28,822

In-building Coverage In-car

Coverage

Based on Handheld

Subscriber Units, with 200mW power over

250KHz UL

122,778 43,223

Coverage of entire MSA, all MSAs

Subset of above coverage to reach

>50% Pops for FCC SS (130 of 305

MSAs)

MSA Coverage equal to Tier-1, all MSAs

Subset of above coverage to reach

>50% Pops for FCC SS (130 of 305

MSAs)

82,141

In-building

Coverage

25,239

17,256

Area of coverage

Based on 3W Subscriber Units, Such as

Vehicular (on-car antenna) or Outdoor Point-of-

Sale

In-car

Coverage

Based on Handheld

Subscriber Units, with 200mW power over

125KHz UL

Employing 500KHz UL

bandwidth

Note: Cost for CPE or mobile units is not represented in this RAN estimate.

16

Thank You