Connectivity that Americans Deserve: Why Xiber is Intent on Expanding the 12 GHz Spectrum Band for Wireless Networks
Stephen Hon is the Founder, President and CTO of Xiber, an Indianapolis-based nationwide Internet Service Provider. Chip Pickering, Co-Chair of the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition, sat down with Hon to talk about Xiber’s efforts to connect American families and businesses across the country to fast, reliable broadband and how expanding the 12 GHz spectrum band for 5G would help them reach more consumers with the services they rely upon daily.
Chip Pickering
Stephen, thank you for sharing your time with us. For those who aren’t familiar with your work, what would you tell us about Xiber and the people you serve?
Stephen Hon
Thank you, Chip. I’m happy to talk more about these important issues and to be a part of the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition. Xiber is a rapidly growing nationwide high-speed Internet Service Provider that supplies essential services for our many customers. We provide industry-leading customer support and in-unit, property-wide Wi-Fi to a number of consumers, from small families to retailers, government entities to educational institutions.
Chip Pickering
You noted that your team is rapidly growing. How are you working to meet the increasing demand we’re seeing – particularly in rural communities – to get more people connected?
Stephen Hon
Well, you are absolutely right. We are certainly at a critical point in the demand for high-speed, reliable Internet, and Xiber is working to help bring more people online. Though we’re based in the Midwest, our network of operators spans more than 20 states and provides services to around 7,000 subscribers and businesses. We’re anticipating another 3,000-5,000 customers will join us by year’s end. Many of these subscribers live in underserved communities, including those that are a part of the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) – a program designed to bring high speed fixed broadband service to rural homes and small businesses that lack access.
Chip Pickering
Certainly, we’re seeing a number of efforts at the Federal level to help reach more unserved, rural communities who are still living without broadband access. Can you tell us a little more about how the 12GHz spectrum band fits with these efforts? What is it about the band that is so critical to 5G and Xiber’s services?
Stephen Hon
Xiber currently uses a multitude of licensed and unlicensed spectrum along with other technologies to deliver services to our customers using hybrid wireless networks. This requires quite a bit of equipment and providers are experiencing greater demands with each day that passes. That’s where the expansion of the 12 GHz band for 5G comes into play. This band is unlike really any other spectrum from our view in a couple of ways. First, the sheer volume of spectrum that would be available from expanding it for 5G is really significant. And second, the location of the band promotes high-capacity over long distances, really making it the goldilocks of spectrum for 5G services.
Chip Pickering
I’d really like to place an emphasis on what you just said, about access to 12 GHz being the “goldilocks” of spectrum. How would the success of the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition impact not only Xiber’s efforts as an American business, but the people you serve?
Stephen Hon
Well, it’s important to note that this isn’t a move that would solely help Xiber or any one provider – which speaks to the strength and diversity of the Coalition’s members and its intent. The bottom line is that modernizing the rules currently governing the 500MHz of spectrum in the 12GHz band will be helpful to everyone who looks to provide services in this space as well as those who rely upon them. As Congress and the FCC strive to enhance modern broadband services and close the digital divide in rural or other underserved communities, this band offers a major opportunity to support that infrastructure buildout and next-generation networks. We also believe that opening the use of this spectrum will help spur innovation and deployment of new technologies – ensuring that American leadership in 5G meets current demand while also preparing us for future needs.
Chip Pickering
It sounds like this truly is a win-win for all Americans. Before we close, could you share a little bit about why your team has chosen to join the Coalition?
Stephen Hon
Of course. Xiber is proud to be a member of the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition because of the significant public interest at stake here. The Coalition is bringing together a wide array of voices who all share the belief that the FCC should act in accordance with its mission to serve the American public, updating outdated rules to put the 12 GHz band to it best use. If more companies like Xiber are equipped to reach customers with much-needed services, we can support economic opportunity and a variety of critical services for the communities we serve. That’s why we’re here.
Xiber is an Indianapolis-based nationwide Internet Service Provider that specializes in multi-format hybrid transport and access network delivery utilizing fiber-optic and registered fixed wireless links and a suite of networking, support, and communications/media services. Xiber provides Gigabit-class symmetrical business circuits with single-digit latency and ultra-high availability at competitive prices and the fastest delivery schedules in over 20 states. We serve national retail chains and small and medium businesses all over the US with this same high level of service. On the residential side, Xiber serves thousands of multi-family residents in over a dozen states by providing industry-leading customer support and in-unit and property-wide Wi-Fi, networking management, and IPTV technology. MDU Developers and owners enjoy greater Net Operating Income, better Internet speeds, customized service and marketing, and the faster deployment that Xiber offers. Xiber is branching out to offer their Internet and related media services to single-family home neighborhoods that are underserved around their MDU and business locations.