Previously in these musings, I have discussed the value of building our own municipal internet infrastructure to help Lansdale build the infrastructure that we need for daily life today. Like the transformation of in-home electricity in the 1900’s, internet access is now a utility in our everyday lives. To better serve our community and our residents, Lansdale could take the first few steps in building a robust internet infrastructure that could provide affordable internet access to community members while also providing infrastructure flexibility long into the future.
Let’s start with the end in mind. The end goal of any internet infrastructure build out is that Lansdale would have a robust wireless network that business and residents could use whenever and wherever they needed it. So, what does this look like comprehensively? What is required to build an entire new infrastructure in a modern community?
The first step would be to build the backbone of all wireless networks…fiber optic lines. For some that might come as a shock. To build a comprehensive wireless network, you must first build a wired network. This is because 5G and all lower WiFi signals are just broadcasts of the power that is running through fiber optic lines. 5G just represents the fastest version of that broadcast. Our ability to use wireless services is, mostly, limited by the wireless router/broadcast device we connect to the fiber, not the fiber itself. Fiber, on its own, moves data at the speed of light through glass tubes. We have never, not even one time, pushed enough data through a fiber line to max out the capacity. Consider all the things that use internet in today’s world and not one of them has achieved a data load that requires a speed faster than fiber can deliver.
This is important because when we talk about building infrastructure, we want it to last long into the future. Building our internet infrastructure with a fiber backbone will allow us to build 5G (or higher) mesh network that could handle immense data loads without needing to dig up and replace buried fiber optic lines. To upgrade our internet infrastructure, we would only need to upgrade the broadcast devices that feed into our already-owned fiber lines. This is the equivalent of owning our own electric grid. It allows us to have maximum flexibility in our community while also not needing to invest in dying technology every year. Certainly, there will be upgrades to the system, but the backbone is, nearly, futureproof.
Additionally, as we build out our own fiber network, we can then leverage that asset to work with other internet service providers to utilize our fiber lines for their data rather than having them build more fiber to support their own 5G mesh networks. This will allow us to build in residual income from corporations who are looking for ways to expand their own internet services. Finally, we could also use our full network to help bring down the cost of internet for everyone in Lansdale while also becoming a more appealing place to do business.
Once the fiber network is built, the addition of a 5G network is completed by adding small cell antennas to the electric poles (most of which we already own) around town. With a 5G system backed by a municipal fiber network, residents would be able to enjoy gigabit speed on a public network without, necessarily, having to buy internet from an ISP provider. Obviously, you wanted one, you could always make the decision for yourself. The goal is not to mandate use, but to create more competition in a duopoly market.
The cost of internet is, for most, a must-have kitchen table expense. For businesses, it is equally important. It is how most businesses run their credit cards, which is the predominate form of payment today. In both cases we would be able to bring the cost of internet way down — estimated between $20 to $50 per month — for most families and businesses. This type of investment and development would go a long way in making Lansdale a better place to call home long into the future and will keep us all moving forward together.
(Mayoral Musings is a weekly op-ed column submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert.)
See also:
Mayoral Musings: GIS – How We Keep Track of Everything
Mayoral Musings: Commercial Vacancy Registry Update
Mayoral Musings: Autism Awareness Month
Mayoral Musings: Next Week is Library Week
Mayoral Musings: Lansdale Police Receive Pennsylvania Police Chief’s Association Accreditation
