Carbon Fiber Lattice Cell Towers Enable Sturdy and Cost-effective 5G Rollout
As the demand for 5G connectivity grows, estimates for tower construction in the U.S. over the next five years reach $30 billion and even more internationally. IsoTruss® carbon fiber lattice cell towers will cut costs in capital outlay, shipping, and installation and labor, allowing a rapid and more sustainable deployment of 5G technology.
The IsoTruss® carbon fiber cell tower is 1/12 the weight of a steel tower which becomes especially important as 5G is rolled out to urban rooftop sites with weight limits and to remote rural locations. The IsoTruss® structure provides flexibility in design and structural advantages that steel, traditionally used in cell towers, cannot match. The towers range in height from 6 to 42 meters, depending on site and zoning requirements, and the IsoTruss® structure maintains wind resistance and strength at all sizes. Additionally, the IsoTruss® grid design, based on isosceles triangles which allows for very efficient use of the carbon fiber composite materials, enables customization based on customer needs. Safety is also paramount and lightening arresting systems can be customized.
Steel towers are subject to corrosion and in regions with high humidity may have a short as a 5-year life span. IsoTruss® carbon fiber lattice cell towers will last at least five times longer than traditional steel towers. Taking the lifespan into account and the environmental impact of production, delivery, and installation of new (replacement) towers, along with the reduced time and heavy equipment needed for installation of the lighter IsoTruss® cell towers, tower carbon emissions are decreased by up to 70%.
“With the rising price of steel, IsoTruss® carbon fiber cell towers are getting closer to parity on an apples-to-apples comparison,” said Cromwell Wong, chief operating officer of IsoTruss, Inc. “The designs that we're producing feature really lightweight, super strong, eco-friendly solutions with the aim of building the sustainable infrastructure of the future. Market conditions related to 5G technology developments combined with fast changing climate conditions are causing infrastructure decision-makers to place more emphasis on sustainability, and we think IsoTruss® offers significant advantages through the reduction in carbon emissions versus steel build-outs.”
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