The OnGo Alliance says that 2024 was a successful year for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).

“The successful rollout of CBRS 2.0 during 2024 is reshaping how industries deploy private wireless networks,” Dr. Preston Marshall, the Chairman of the OnGo Alliance and Director of Wireless Standards and Policy at Google, said in a press release.

“The enhanced framework has delivered the carrier-grade reliability that business-critical operations demand while maintaining the cost-effectiveness and flexibility that made CBRS attractive from the start.”

At year’s end, there were more than 400,000 CBRS devices (CBSDs) deployed nationwide, more than 1,000 CBRS operators, and more than 960 FCC-authorized end-user devices. The approach established a presence across aviation, manufacturing, broadcasting, and education sectors.

The OnGo Alliance pointed out three key enhancements to CBRS 2.0 during the year:

• Reduced protection zones around military radar sites and exemption from indoor deployments shorter than six meters in 97% of the country
• Extended network operation time of up to 24 hours without SAS reauthorization
• A new General Authorized Access coexistence framework for improved spectrum sharing

The press release mentions what the organization considers notable successes — an implementation at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has the potential to reduce monthly mobile network operator bills by as much as half.

The OnGo Alliance — formerly the CBRS Alliance — has about 110 members. The organization has established a product certification program. This, the press release says, ensures multi-vendor interoperability.

A sign of interest and industry acceptance was that the sector held two events that drew representatives from about 125 member companies and partners. These included technology suppliers, enterprises, system integrators, and managed service providers.