Yesterday, Halo launched one of the first commercial driverless car services in the U.S. running on the T-Mobile 5G network in Las Vegas. With Halo, visitors and residents can quickly summon a sleek, driverless all-electric Halo with the push of a button. A driverless Halo then arrives at the pick-up location and the rider hops in and drives to their destination. Halo …
RF survey says: Verizon’s Massachusetts monopole gets a clean bill of health
Update: July 9, 2021 – The Pittsfield, MA Board of Health held a hearing on Wednesday evening and discussed the Verizon monopole that residents said is causing health problems in the nearby neighborhood. After hours of discussion, the city said that their study identified that the tower is safe, but further investigation will be required. Gina Armstrong, the city’s health director, …
Forum sees growing diversity of deployment models driving surging small cell demand through 2026
The Small Cell Forum (SCF) has released its latest market forecast report identifying a large growth curve. The report, available here, confirms the continuing growth of the small cell market, with 5G driving new deployments, particularly in industrial and enterprise settings. This is forecast to be accelerated by increasing access to new spectrum and open architectures, both of which will facilitate new …
Vertical Bridge and Tarpon Towers tag team against Tillman’s tower model at South Wireless Summit session
When towerco executives interact during a panel discussion, it’s expected that they’ll present an uplifting message to the audience, nodding to investors to join in their spiritual-like carrier campfire song. A Tuesday presentation proved to be an exception. During a South Wireless Summit session moderated by Pat Tant, CEO of Vogue Towers, Vertical Bridge Sr. VP Bob Paige and Tarpon …
NATE takes off the gloves and exposes depressed pricing and other issues making contracting ‘untenable’
Downward pricing pressure and costly vetting demands from carriers and other top-tier clients over the years have undermined the ability of many wireless contractors to remain profitable. It’s a frequent topic of concern and conversations typically end with no solutions or guidance and are renewed each year when turfing vendors and other customers set a new percentage price reduction that …
Communications survive condo catastrophe as hope for survivors dwindles; lawsuit adds wireless contractor
UPDATE: June 29, 2021 – Two lawsuits have already been filed against the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association. One of the lawsuits alleges that recently added weight to the building’s roof was “the straw that broke the spine” of the complex. It also claims that the association had “contracted with a cellular antennae provider/contractor, allowing it to install a transmission and/or receiver …
America still in second place with 5G service in a worldwide tally of 1,662 cites: VIAVI
Viavi Solutions Inc. today released new research demonstrating the accelerating pace at which 5G is growing, with coverage extending to an additional four countries and 301 cities worldwide since the beginning of this year. The new total — 1,662 cities across 65 countries — represents an increase of more than 20 percent during 2021 to date, according to the latest edition …
Mobilitie acquired by transit and connected infrastructure firm BAI Communications
BAI Communications (BAI), a global communications infrastructure provider, has today agreed to acquire Mobilitie, one of the largest privately held telecommunications infrastructure companies in the United States. This acquisition represents a major expansion of BAI’s business in North America where it provides cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity across large infrastructure projects, including the New York City subway system, under its majority owned business Transit Wireless. It …
SBA’s Bernstein says ‘it’s time to tell the world’ about Skyfish’s drone photogrammety and $20M in funding
American autonomous drone maker Skyfish has secured over $20 million in venture funding led by Henry Wolfond, CEO of Bayshore Capital, and Steven Bernstein, the Chairman of SBA Communications. “After speaking with Skyfish customers, we quickly understood that Skyfish is unique in the commercial drone world, producing precise ‘engineering grade’ drone enabled photogrammetry and 3D Models of infrastructure,” said Bernstein. …
NATE participates in industry roundtable hosted By Secretary of Commerce Raimondo and Senator Wicker
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association was invited to participate in a roundtable event hosted today in Gulfport, Mississippi by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker. NATE Chairman Jimmy Miller and Member Services Chairwoman Jordyn Ladner from Gulfport-based MILLERCO represented the Association at the roundtable, which was held at the Mississippi Aquarium. During the event, …
Fifth Circuit clears the way for an FCC rip and replace approval day
The FCC’s July 13 meeting will have commissioners voting on congressionally mandated changes to replace insecure network equipment from Chinese companies ZTE and Huawei. While Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel was busy last week putting the finishing touches on the rip and replace program, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday removed a judicial roadblock that could have prevented the program …
New interactive mapping service locator provides a ‘sobering view’ of nation’s lack of broadband
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new publicly available digital map that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country. This is the first interactive, public map that allows users to explore different datasets about where people do not have quality Internet access. The “Indicators of Broadband Need” tool puts on one map, …
Say sayonara to Sierra Wireless’ fraudulent tower tech dream job
A con artist is making the rounds targeting wireless construction workers and trying to enlist them into a Skype interview to wrangle unsuspecting applicants out of money. Wireless Estimator alerted viewers to a scam in 2019 where a tag-team of criminals would provide candidates with a fraudulent upfront check to purchase personal protective equipment and other gear necessary in order …
Ohio’s lawsuit seeking public utility status for Google confuses tower owners
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a landmark lawsuit yesterday, asking the court to declare Google a public utility, reining in the ways the powerful search engine provides search results to Ohioans. “Google uses its dominance of internet search to steer Ohioans to Google’s own products–that’s discriminatory and anti-competitive,” Yost said. “When you own the railroad or the electric company or …
Government watchdog says FCC needs its disaster response role clarified
In a report issued Tuesday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that although the FCC supported telecommunications restoration efforts following Hurricane Maria, future disaster recovery efforts by the agency could be improved. The GAO found that the FCC’s disaster response role was unclear in guidance published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), even though the guidance states that all …
If you invested a few grand in these towercos at their low, here’s what you would have made today
Crown Castle (CCI NYSE), American Tower (AMT NYSE) and SBA Communications’ (SBAC NASDAQ) stocks turned lower again this morning after tumbling yesterday. Down $5.21 at 10:30 p.m. today, yesterday, SBAC lost $1.76, closing at $296.90. AMT closed at $248.88 yesterday losing $3.42. This morning the stock was down $4.01. Yesterday’s loss for CCI was $3.80 when the stock closed yesterday …
Tower Systems rebrands with ‘We Rise’ as U.S. legislators and industry executives recognize its founder
Tower Systems, a Watertown, SD-based international tower solutions company, hosted U.S. Senator John Thune, U.S. Congressman Dusty Johnson, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and stakeholders representing NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, Lake Area Technical College, municipalities and business for a Rebrand Launch & Ribbon Cutting Event yesterday. “We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the hard working people who …
Nation’s associations band together to honor tower tower techs on Wednesday’s ‘appreciation’ day
Industry leaders praise essential contributions of tower Technician workforce to global connectivity and 5G economy NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a commemoration declaring tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. For the fifth consecutive year, a day has been set aside by NATE and the industry in order to pay tribute to the important work that communications …
Ericsson launches three-sector radio for efficient site upgrades and capacity boost
Ericsson is launching Radio 6626, a unique three-sector dual-band radio to help communications service providers (CSPs) increase their Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) 5G frequency capacity, even as their site towers already have 2G, 3G and 4G radios. The latest addition to Ericsson’s radio portfolio provides multi-standard and multi-band coverage while lowering costs and reducing footprint – up to 50 percent …
New construction cut out of FCC’s proposed $7.17 billion student broadband program
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Friday laid out the proposed rules for the Emergency Connectivity fund that excludes new network construction from a $7.17 billion program meant to help students get and stay online as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, planning to limit purchases to laptops, tablets and Wi-Fi hot spots. New phones were also excluded in the fund …
