OnGo Alliance widens its mission to push industry spectrum globally

The OnGo Alliance says it is expanding beyond U.S. CBRS to advocate for industry spectrum access worldwide, with a focus on device ecosystems, policy alignment, and enterprise use cases. The move comes as the group points to more than 440,000 active CBSDs in the U.S. and a growing role for shared spectrum in private networks, broadband, and critical infrastructure.

Why it matters: - The OnGo Alliance is trying to turn the U.S. CBRS model into a global playbook for industry spectrum. - The group says broader access to shared spectrum could lower connectivity costs for ports, utilities, healthcare, transportation, education, manufacturing, and other sectors that need mission-critical wireless. - A larger ecosystem of compatible devices and clearer spectrum rules could accelerate private networks and fixed wireless deployments worldwide.

What happened: - The OnGo Alliance announced an expanded global mission to unlock the economic potential of spectrum for industry worldwide. - Newly appointed Chairman Norman Fekrat unveiled the strategy at OnGo Forward during Network X Americas in Dallas on May 20. - The Alliance said the new direction builds on CBRS adoption in the U.S. and extends its work into global advocacy and device ecosystem enablement. - The Alliance said it will continue supporting WISPs, enterprises, and vertical industries that helped drive CBRS growth.

The details: - CBRS now has more than 440,000 active CBSDs across the United States, according to the Alliance. - The band has more than 1,100 certified devices. - The Alliance says CBRS has become a base for private networks and broadband in manufacturing, ports, automated logistics, airports, rural residential access, and enterprise settings. - Fekrat said shared spectrum can create more GDP value than other bands and called CBRS “the smartest thing the FCC ever did.” - The expanded mission rests on five pillars: membership focus, advocacy execution, industry inclusion, OEM integration, and global expansion. - Membership focus will emphasize value for members, a sharper industry and enterprise focus, and outreach to end users around the world. - Advocacy execution will push policy positions on industry spectrum allocations in the U.S. and globally, tied to local licensing and GDP value. - Industry inclusion will bring more verticals into the Alliance, including manufacturing, aviation, oil and gas, and transportation. - OEM integration will work with device makers to expand native support for industry spectrum and forecast product needs across bands. - Global expansion will target industry spectrum allocations worldwide and extend the OnGo model across bands including n77, n78, and n79 in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. - The Alliance said its goal is industry-led rulemaking with the FCC in the U.S. and industry-driven alignment globally. - The target sectors include ports, utilities, healthcare, transportation, education, and manufacturing. - The Alliance’s agenda in Dallas featured speakers from Chevron, Tulsa International Airport, Murray City School District, AT&T, Charter, InfiniG, and Barich. - Those sessions covered energy, neutral host, cable, aviation, and K-12 education use cases.

Between the lines: - The announcement signals a shift from a U.S.-centric CBRS advocate to a broader spectrum policy and ecosystem group with international ambitions. - The Alliance is framing spectrum access as both a policy issue and a device-market issue, suggesting that regulation alone will not be enough without OEM support. - The emphasis on vertical industries and continental-scale allocations reflects a view that fragmented local spectrum is holding back enterprise wireless deployment.

What’s next: - The Alliance will likely spend the next phase building member value, pushing policy positions, and trying to influence global spectrum allocations. - The group also plans to work with device manufacturers to expand native support for industry spectrum bands. - Markets named in the global expansion plan include Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The bottom line: - OnGo Alliance is betting that CBRS proved the model and that the next growth phase is global, enterprise-driven spectrum policy and device adoption.

Learn more about the OnGo Alliance