Since the mid-1990s, the City of Los Angeles has recognized that citywide coverage of wireless service is an important element to support smart city services. The city considers streetlights to be the best location for new wireless sites since they are at the optimum height, have existing electrical infrastructure, and do not add an additional structure into the public right of way. The city proactively works with carriers to attach small cells to existing streetlight poles to eliminate additional unsightly poles and cabinets installed in already busy sidewalks.

To facilitate new services, such as 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and mobile applications, the LA Bureau of Street Lighting (BSL) has established policies, specifications and procedures for co-location of cellular sites on streetlight poles. Working with a tier-one carrier customer, Raycap engineered a small cell streetlight design, based on LA BSL specifications, that provides a path to widespread installation of small cells in Los Angeles and possibly even provide a blueprint for neighboring cities.

The LA BSL is responsible for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair of more than 210,000 lights throughout Los Angeles, consisting of more than 400 designs. BSL regulations provide a framework for integrating wireless services with its more modern streetlights, striking a “delicate balance” to meet the demand for 5G mmWave small cell sites and evolve the aesthetics of the attachments. Click Here to view the full article