This affects you if you rely on cell phones to connect with your family, friends, or work. It affects you if you use your cell phone during emergencies or just to look up directions or local businesses. This is your opportunity to get better wireless service for you and your neighbors.
All Central Indiana residents benefit from improved Verizon Wireless service, even non-Verizon Wireless customers. First, the small cell network will relieve congestion on the Verizon Wireless network serving Central Indiana by providing additional capacity to address demands for service. This added capacity improves Verizon Wireless’s network for all of Central Indiana by off-loading calls and data demands from existing facilities. Second, these enhancements will improve network service for Central Indiana first responders. Finally, should another wireless carrier’s network fail, the Verizon Wireless network is available to all users for emergency calls and text messages.
At home, the Verizon Wireless Network is leveraged for more than staying connected with friends and family or entertainment online. The Network supports home security monitoring, connectivity for home health monitoring devices or even tracking a lost pet.
90% of US households use wireless service. With this increase in demand from users at home and those who work from home comes the need for more facilities to meet the customer needs. Citizens need access to 911 and reverse 911 and wireless may be their only connection. (CTIA, June 2015)
To stay ahead of demand, Verizon is deploying new technology, commonly referred to as small cells. A small cell network adds coverage, capacity, and increases connection speed so that more users can connect to reliable high-speed wireless service where they live, work and play. Small cells are part of a macro-micro cellular communication coverage umbrella enabling information flow between traditional cell sites and small cells. This architecture provides higher quality of service and increased capacity to a dedicated geographic location. Small cell architecture enhances the network for users in the selected geographic small cell area. The increased communication quality benefits customers during normal communication use and emergencies.
Small cells are a fraction of the size of traditional communication facilities, use a fraction of the power and serve a much smaller area than traditional cell sites. The reduced size allows the small cells to attach to existing utility poles and light standards.
Since the launch of the smart phone more than 10 years ago, Verizon Wireless has been introducing new technologies to meet service capacity demands. Today, reliable service and in-building coverage are essential to the everyday lives of Central Indiana area residents, commuters and workers. Over the past year, the demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services has nearly doubled, and network enhancements are required to keep up with this ever‐increasing demand. Maintaining a highly reliable, high-speed, high-capacity network is also critical to emergency communications. Central Indiana residents, commuters and workers depend on this reliability of the Verizon Wireless network, especially to communicate with emergency professionals during times of crisis – including police, fire, ambulance and hospital calls.
Small Cells blend into a city’s landscape using existing infrastructure like utility poles or street lights, or new poles in the public right-of-way.
If you value improved wireless service in Central Indiana and you support Verizon Wireless’s proposed network enhancements, we need to hear from you. To show your support and let your voice be heard, take a moment to send an email that we can share with city officials. You can click to select any of the sample messages or create your own.
What is a small cell?
A small cell is just like the name implies. Small cells are short range mobile cell sites used to complement larger macro cells (or cell towers). A small cell augments Verizon’s capacity and/or coverage in a given area. It consists of a radio, antenna, power and a fiber connection. Small cells enable the Verizon network team to strategically add capacity to high traffic areas. Small cells can also be used to provide coverage in difficult to reach areas.
Why small cells?
Demand for wireless data services has grown 18 fold over the past 5 years. Small cells are part of Verizon’s network strategy to provide reliable service and keep up with this booming demand for wireless data. Small cell networks add capacity and coverage in targeted areas to improve voice quality, reliability, and data speeds for local residents, businesses, first responders and visitors using the Verizon Wireless network both indoors and outside.
How does it work?
A small cell uses small radios and antennas placed on various types of poles like utility poles, street lights, or new poles in the public right-of-way. The coverage area can range from a few hundred feet to upwards of 1,000 ft. depending on topography, capacity needs, and more. This small focused footprint supports the latest technology-enabled devices, allowing more consumers to use the network for ever more data reliant applications such as health monitoring, location services, and enhanced social media services.
Does this replace the need for macro cell sites?
For Verizon, small cells are part of a balanced approach to network coverage and capacity. Small cells compliment a macro cell network. As a network matures both small cells and macro cells are added where needed. Macro sites provide broad coverage, while small cells provide localized coverage in difficult to reach areas and localized capacity in areas of high demand.
Where will Verizon add small cells?
Verizon Wireless engineers design small cell networks to add needed capacity to meet rising demand and to provide coverage in hard to reach areas. As a result, small cell networks are designed for areas ranging from urban centers to residential neighborhoods.
When will small cells be installed in Central Indiana and when will the work occur?
Verizon Wireless has already started to install small cells in Central Indiana and will be over the next few years. Traffic and parking disruptions will be minimal, as work will be completed in phases to minimize local impacts.
Are small cell applications reviewed by the City?
Yes, Verizon Wireless must obtain permits to install small cells in accordance with the Central Indiana permitting process and design guidelines.
I have heard that 5G small cells cause COVID-19. Is that true?
No. Reports that 5G networks are somehow related to the coronavirus are baseless rumors. It is scientifically impossible for radiofrequency waves at any frequency to create a virus, including radio waves used to provide 5G. Infectious disease specialist and coronavirus expert Dr. Anthony Fauci calls these reports “garbage.” Professor Stephen Powis, the National Medical Director in the United Kingdom, calls these theories “outrageous” and “absolute and utter rubbish.”
The World Health Organization and the CDC have been clear about the origins of this virus: The WHO says “Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.” The CDC says coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats and bats.
Social media platforms, including YouTube, are removing content linking 5G and COVID-19 per their user guidelines since these stories are false.
More information is available at https://www.wirelesshealthfacts.com/
Are small cells reviewed for compliance with FCC safety guidelines?
Yes. All small cells must comply with the same stringent standards under which macro communications sites are reviewed and regulated.
Are small cells safe?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in consultation with multiple federal agencies, sets federal government safety standards regarding small cells. Those standards have wide safety margins and are designed to protect everyone, including children, and were established after close examination of research that scientists in the US and around the world conducted for decades. The research continues to this day, and agencies continue to monitor it. Based on this research, federal agencies have concluded that equipment that complies with the FCC’s safety standards poses no known health risks. Advisers to the World Health Organization have specifically concluded that the same goes for 5G equipment. In fact, the RF safety standards adopted by the FCC are even more conservative than the levels adopted by some international standards bodies.
FCC: The FCC provides information about the safety of RF emissions from cellular base stations on its website at: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/rf-faqs.html.
FDA: The Food and Drug Administration’s Cell phone website
EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s overview of cell phone safety: Cell phone safety
CTIA: Wireless Industry Trade Association’s wireless health facts: http://www.wirelesshealthfacts.com, Wireless Emissions Bar Graph Comparison and Small Cell Chart
Have more questions? Reach out to us at supportwireless@verizonwireless.com