Pivotal takes ‘lemons’ out of mmWave to improve coverage
Posted on May 11, 2020 by Pivotal Commware
Pivotal Commware, a Kirkland, Washington-based startup backed by Bill Gates, released a new white paper and video to demonstrate how a Tier 1 mobile operator can use its Echo 5G and Pivot 5G repeaters to increase indoor 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) coverage while reducing deployment costs.
Pivotal doesn't mention Verizon, which is the U.S. carrier most aggressively using mmWave for its initial 5G rollouts. But the white paper explores the solution at 28 GHz, which is the band most often associated with Verizon and prior reports have connected the dots. Last month, the Wall Street Journal noted Pivotal’s presence in a Verizon-hosted demo associated with the Super Bowl.
Verizon did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Fierce but previously declined to comment about any work with Pivotal. Executives have acknowledged they’re interested in this type of gear that pulls the mmWave signal into a building or residence, as opposed to using Wi-Fi inside. Verizon's 5G Home service is currently available in only five markets.