CBRS Powers 75% of US Private 5G Networks, New Study Finds

A coalition of five industry groups released a study on June 11, 2026, showing that Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) now powers 75% of all private 5G networks in the United States. The report from Spectrum for the Future, 5G-OT Alliance, American-Made 5G, OnGo Alliance, and WISPA highlights CBRS as the most widely used mid-band spectrum asset in the American economy.

According to the report, more than 442,000 CBRS base stations have been deployed across the country, with nearly 70% located in rural areas. Over 10 million US locations now have access to CBRS-powered broadband connectivity.

Manufacturing and Rural Broadband Drive Adoption

Key findings from the report include:

• Nearly 260 manufacturers currently use CBRS, with projections of nearly 9 times growth by 2032.
• CBRS-enabled private networks reduce manufacturing downtime by as much as 30%.
• CBRS is expected to capture an 86% share of US private 5G deployments over the coming years, significantly outpacing traditional high-power spectrum.

The data underscores CBRS's role in bridging the digital divide in rural communities, where traditional broadband deployment has been slow. The report also notes that CBRS is being used for advanced manufacturing automation, predictive maintenance, and real-time analytics. These applications are driving efficiency gains across industries.

Coalition Calls for Regulatory Stability

The groups are advocating that policymakers preserve the current CBRS framework, which they argue has enabled billions in private investment. The report warns that changes to the spectrum sharing rules could disrupt ongoing deployments in critical sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and energy. The coalition includes trade associations representing wireless internet service providers, equipment manufacturers, and technology developers. They argue that the three-tiered spectrum sharing model has proven effective and should not be overhauled.

The study comes as the US government considers future spectrum allocation for 5G and 6G. CBRS operates in the 3.5 GHz band and was designed to allow shared access between incumbent users, priority licensees, and general authorized access users. The coalition's report is intended to inform policymakers about the real-world impact of the current rules. With CBRS deployments continuing to accelerate, the coalition plans to engage with the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies to ensure the framework remains intact. The full report is available from Spectrum for the Future. The groups plan to release additional data on economic impact later this year.