The FCC took steps today to maintain United States leadership in wireless by proposing new rules for wireless broadband in wireless frequencies above 24 GHz. The spectrum was previously believed to be useless for mobile devices. These proposed rules are an opportunity to move forward on creating a regulatory environment in which these emerging next-generation mobile technologies – such as …
American Tower’s Viom deal puts their India tower count ahead of the U.S.
American Tower Corporation is paying $1.16 billion to buy a controlling stake in the Indian tower operator, Viom Networks. The deal, which was widely expected will see American Tower taking a 51 percent stake in the Indian firm, which currently owns and operates approximately 42,200 towers and 200 indoor distributed antenna systems across India. American Tower’s existing Indian portfolio of …
Google study: 30% of 911 calls in San Francisco are butt-dials
Accidental dialing, commonly called “butt-dials” are a growing concern for emergency services dispatchers, a newly released Google report states, and the company is helping San Francisco to get to the bottom of the increasing trend. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM) found a dramatic spike of 28% in 2014 of 911 calls and Google worked with the city …
PCIA Chief urges Senate committee to alleviate barriers to broadband development
The head of PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association this morning urged the Senate to help alleviate the barriers hindering wireless broadband deployment so that the U.S. can continue meeting the “nearly insatiable and increasing demand” for mobile data and strengthen its capacity to compete in the global marketplace. “Wireless infrastructure enables the economic growth and technological innovation that is delivered …
CCA convention starts with a call for carriers to get involved in 5G
During an executive breakfast panel at the 2015 Competitive Carriers Association conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. today, T-Mobile’s North American Vice President of Radio Network Engineering Mark McDiarmid and Ericsson’s CTO and Head of Strategy Glenn Laxdal said North American participation in the global 5G discussion has been less than stellar and called upon U.S. operators to get involved. “Regional …
Huawei completes world’s first large-scale 5G field trial with NTT DoCoMo
Huawei announced today the world’s first successful large-scale field trial of 5G new radio access technologies. The field trial was conducted jointly with NTT DoCoMo, Inc., Japan’s largest mobile service provider. Experts from both companies participated the field trial in an outdoor test site in Chengdu, China. As an on-going field trial, Huawei was able to stream live video of …
Central States Towers picks up $75m in new debt and equity financing
CIT Group Inc. announced that CIT Communications & Technology Finance served as sole lead arranger and administrative agent in a senior secured credit facility to Central States Tower (CST), a leading middle market operator and developer of wireless communications towers and a portfolio company of Sweetwater Capital, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We have maintained a strong …
Repacking’s effect on tower site configurations to be discussed at BTS conference
The IEEE Broadcast Technology Society (BTS) announced that James Stenberg, broadcast account manager for American Tower Corporation, will lead a technical “TV Repack” session at the 2015 IEEE Broadcast Symposium on Friday, Oct. 16, at 8:30 a.m. Taking place Oct. 13-16 at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Fla., the four-day symposium is an annual gathering of broadcast engineers from …
Ericsson report: Microwave to be the dominant backhaul technology in the future
Ericsson has released latest in a continuing series of reports on Microwave Towards 2020, an in-depth report on the state of the microwave business, and notes that in 2020, 65 percent of all cell sites will be connected with microwave solutions (excluding China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan). The choice between fiber and microwave in backhaul networks will not be …
Michigan school board provides an easement for a three-tenant tower for $900,000
The Livonia, Mich. School Board has welcomed the opportunity for a revenue enhancement of $900,000 from American Tower Corp. for a perpetual easement for a three-tenant stadium lighting monopole site at Stevenson High School’s athletic field, and agreed to ink an agreement on Monday. According to an article in Home Town Life, Interim Superintendent Andrea Oquist said the $900,000 is …
NATE celebrates success of its first regional meeting in Illinois
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that the first NATE Regional Meeting held on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 at the Kankakee Community College Banquet Center in Kankakee, Ill., was a tremendous success. The meeting focused on key industry safety and health initiatives and offered excellent networking and professional development opportunities for meeting attendees. “This was such a …
FirstNet may be setting itself up for failure with December’s proposal request
Andrew Seybold, recognized worldwide for his keen perspective and track record for accurately predicting mobile technology trends, said he’s overly concerned that bidders may not partner with FirstNet, the independent nationwide public safety broadband network funded by Congress. Seybold said that if FirstNet releases a request for proposal in December that follows their current template, “it is running a high …
Battery catcher in the rye bread truck and other wacky world events
Wireless industry news in America sometimes catches viewers off guard with weird events, but our nation doesn’t have exclusivity – especially in the past week. In Pretoria, South Africa, police arrested a 29-year-old man after he was found in possession of 12 Vodacom backup batteries. Although that’s becoming a frequent occurrence in the U.S., the vehicle he was transporting them …
Tennessee tower consolidator G. Larry Wells dies at age 50
Chattanooga, Tenn. businessman G. Larry Wells Jr. died at his home in Hixson last night. He was 50. Wells, a native of Dayton, had developed a network of cell towers through his Wireless Properties firm. Wells had over 28 years of experience in the wireless communications industry. He began his career in 1985 when he operated a successful cellular telephone …
Saints backup quarterback’s loss is still good for Verizon’s backup message
Verizon’s newest commercial features New Orleans Saints’ backup quarterback Luke McCown in full uniform as he looks at a Verizon cell tower with a gen set on an elevated platform, as he states, “Verizon has backup generators for most of their towers, so they’re ready if the power ever goes down.” He then salutes the cell tower with his helmet and …
TIRAP urges employers to embrace career training, safety and quality
The Chairman of the private/public Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), Scott Kisting, today urged telecommunications employers to fully embrace an industry-wide effort to train new workers and instill higher standards in the workplace. In a presentation before the Environmental, Health & Safety International Communications Conference, Kisting said, “If the telecom industry is going to meet soaring consumer demand, we’ll …
T-Mobile and Verizon tie for high LTE speeds in the U.S. but America gets a failing grade
T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless are almost tied for the fastest U.S. LTE data speeds, according to OpenSignal, a network testing firm. However, the U.S. was ranked number nine in the world for coverage, but received failing grades for its LTE speeds overall. Verizon was identified as having the most LTE coverage in America, followed by AT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Sprint …
AGC’s survey identifies that wireless construction’s employment ills are similar
If wireless construction contractors believe that because cell site construction and other craft needs within the telecommunications industry are unique, and it’s the primary reason why it’s difficult to hire qualified workers, they’ll see that a 2015 Workforce Survey by the Associated General Contractors of America released earlier this month mirrors similar difficulties nationally with other professions, with 86 percent …
Ski area communications plan delayed by AT&T and others says lawsuit counterclaim
American Tower Corporation has filed counterclaims against Aspen Skiiing in regards to a $21 million project to improve service for four ski areas in Colorado. Aspen Skiing filed a lawsuit in July against American to break the contract the businesses had entered into in 2014. According to an article in the Aspen Daily News, American Tower in a March letter …
NATE and industry stakeholders present at California safety conference
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) was a key participant today at the 2015 Environmental, Health & Safety International Communications Conference in Los Angeles, California. The conference, organized by the Environmental, Health & Safety Communications Panel (EHSCP), consisted of a series of high-profile sessions focused on key industry safety and health topics, and was attended by stakeholders representing prominent …
