Fiber ring could jumpstart 5G in Hampton Roads

Along with laying the groundwork to deliver high-speed internet across Hampton Roads, an estimated $25 million fiber ring will give the region a head start in creating 5G wireless networks, according to project leaders.

"This is our time, Hampton Roads," said Robert Crum, executive director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. "This is our opportunity."

The ring, around 100 miles long, will connect the five cities in South Hampton Roads to some of the fastest internet in the world. With initial planning finished, the project is on track for construction to begin by 2020, Crum said.

5G is, true to its name, the fifth generation of wireless technology, according to cell phone carrier Verizon. The big advantage the network will offer over 4G, the current standard, is speed, said Jeff Beekhoo, who is managing the fiber ring project for HRPDC.

"In layman's terms, 5G has a lot more bandwidth," Beekhoo said.

According to Verizon, that means download speeds around 20 times faster than 4G networks.

If the localities in charge of the ring approve it, cell phone carriers could connect their new networks to the fiber ring, Crum said. It's one reason the ring is open access – unused "dark" fibers can be leased to private entities, which can then connect more homes and businesses to the high-speed network.

"It wouldn't play favoritism to one company, but would open up to everyone that wanted to work with it," Beekhoo added.

In fact, Crum said it was almost best to view the project as a necessary infrastructure improvement in the region. He compared it to the billions of dollars in highway and bridge repairs and upgrades happening around Hampton Roads.

"I think this positions Hampton Roads in a really strategic way," he said.

Now, city managers from South Hampton Roads are researching and deciding how to best govern and manage the completed fiber ring. Later this year, planners will complete a "100-percent" final design of the ring, which Crum said will get into construction details and environmental considerations. The five cities will also be sharing the cost of about $800,000 for that work.

As for the around $25 million for construction, Crum said city representatives are looking into a similar cost-sharing approach.

The ring in South Hampton Roads is the first step to connecting the entire area, Crum said. HRPDC planners are beginning discussions with Peninsula government officials on building a similar fiber ring in that region. The final step would then connect the two fiber rings.

Along with the fiber ring, 5G networks also have a way to go before they are available across the country. Verizon launched 5G mobile networks in parts of both Chicago and Minneapolis on April 3. Verizon announced in late 2018 it will offer 5G in 30 U.S. cities by the end of this year, but did not specify which cities would be receiving the network. Fellow Hampton Roads carrier AT&T connected 12 cities to its 5G network in December.

However, consumers still need mobile devices that can connect to these networks. Right now, Verizon customers with a Moto Z3 phone can shell out $349 for an official mod that connects it to 5G. Verizon and Samsung had planned to launch a Galaxy S10 5G smartphone in the first half of the year. AT&T plans to offer a 5G phone in the second half of this year.

Even Apple, whose products make up almost half of the U.S. cell phone market, will be holding off on releasing a 5G phone. According to a Dec. 3 article from Bloomberg, Apple will not release an iPhone that can connect to 5G until 2020.

Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, [email protected].

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