The city of Cumming is getting plans together to deal with new cell phone technology. 

At a recent regular meeting, the Cumming City Council decided to postpone and make a decision at their next meeting on a master right of way license agreement with Mobilitie, “small cell” technology company that providers towers that are smaller than traditional cell phone towers and can be made to look like street lights or powerlines.

The plan is to put poles on Pilgrim Mill Road and Elm Street that will pave the way for 5G in the area.

“We’ve got a situation where our infrastructure was built 20 years ago, and it’s supporting something that this infrastructure that was built didn’t anticipate,” said Chris Brown, with Mobilitie. “The infrastructure is such that it needs extra capacity for the data stream that is being used, because it was basically built for just calling.”

“When we install it, it will be for 4G LTE, which is the technology that we use now, to upgrade to 5G,” Brown said. “All we have to do is go up there and change one little part. 5G is the fifth generation; it is coming possibly next year."

Plans are to co-locate with power poles. 

“Initially, we were against any kind of new poles, but whether we like it or not, poles and this technology are coming,” said Ryan Kinder, with Georgia Municipal Association.  

The location of future poles will depend where use is needed.

Earlier this year, Forsyth County dealt with its own Mobilitie policy. 

The council will discuss the matter at the June 19 meeting.