The United States Department of the Navy (DON) has formally released new guidelines designed to improve the speed at which wireless infrastructure facilities are deployed on properties owned by the U.S. Government and operated by the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. The memorandum — titled “Streamlined Process for Commercial Broadband Deployment” — was signed by the Deputy Under Secretary …
Top U.S. towercos eyeing Deutsche Telekom’s towers in Germany
As America gets ready to celebrate Independence Day on Monday, considered by some to be the original Brexit, Deutsche Telekom is prepping the sale of thousands of its German towers in a potential $5.5 billion deal. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanly are organizing the sale of the structures. SBA Communications, American Tower and Crown Castle are on the invite list, according to …
By cutting crew climbs, Anritsu lowers the cost of testing remote radio heads on towers
Anritsu Company has introduced CPRI RF measurement capability in its market-leading E series of Site Master™, Spectrum Master™, and Cell Master™ handheld field analyzers that dramatically simplifies and lowers the cost of testing Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) installed atop 4G towers. Solidifying Anritsu’s position as the industry leader in field test solutions, the new option reduces network OpEx by allowing wireless …
Tower crews tackle restoring communications in West Virginia
Tower crews have been working under challenging conditions to restore cell and wireline services to three carriers in West Virginia after massive floods left tens of thousands of customers without communications services. Frontier Communications, alone, said more than 10,000 of its customers have lost services. The company said in a news release that the number of outages may fluctuate and …
Thousands of dropped calls couldn’t compete with 1976’s GOP fiasco
All of the major carriers are boosting their networks ahead of the Republican national convention to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, July 18-21, and the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, Pa. July 25-28 with increased DAS systems, better backhaul, additional Cells on Wheels and other measures to ensure coverage for the events. But no matter how spotty the coverage is in …
No injuries after Indiana tower topples due to 100 mph gusts
An internet service provider’s 180-foot guyed tower collapsed this morning in Russiaville, Ind. after gusts reported to be at 100 mph hit the area. The tower, located at Union and Stewart Streets, is owned by Start of the Art Communications. Local ambulance services and the Howard County Dispatch Center also have equipment on the tower. It also was part of …
FCC chief wants to quit studying 5G and roll it out now with spectrum trifecta
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced today his proposal for the FCC to free up a huge swath of airwaves for a new generation of faster wireless systems that could support remote surgery, guide cars, and control electricity grids. “And that’s damn important,” said Wheeler in his speech before the National Press Club which is available below, “because it …
Communications Sales & Leasing to acquire Tower Cloud
Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc. (CS&L) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Tower Cloud, Inc. for $230 million in cash and stock. Tower Cloud is a leading provider of data transport services, with a particular focus on providing infrastructure solutions to the wireless and enterprise sectors, including fiber-to-the-tower backhaul, small cell networks, and …
Texas techs and others network at NATE’s regional confab
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) has reported that the second NATE Regional Meeting held on Tues., June 7 at the Texas Star Golf Course Conference Center in Euless, Tex. 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 successful …
Veteran tower climber, helping ham radio operators, succumbs after a fall in Arizona
Update: June 12, 2016 – Andrew Milton ‘Milt’ Jensen, 73, who died when he fell from a tower located on Mount Lemmon in Pima County, Ariz. on Thursday while volunteering his services to an amateur radio club, had been climbing professionally for a number of years and had safety training, according to a family member who announced services today that …
FCC shuffle puts Suzanne Tetreault in the deputy bureau chief’s seat
FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief Jon Wilkins has announced his intention to appoint Suzanne Tetreault as deputy bureau chief. Tetreault will move from her current position as deputy general counsel in the Office of General Counsel. Tetreault will replace current Deputy Bureau Chief Jean Kiddoo who is joining the FCC’s Incentive Auction Task Force as Deputy Chair for Transition. “Suzanne’s …
Georgia tech’s death underscores the fragility of life on the road
The known dangers to the nation’s road-warrior technicians are numerous, especially when they’re swelled by working aloft, but the recent death of a Conley, Ga. man underscores the fragility of life on the road and has his fellow crew members, family and friends shaking their heads in disbelief. Derreset “Dezzy” Brown, 51, had been working for TowerComm of Raleigh, N.C. …
TowerCo eyes new acquisitions and build-to-suits after its $244 million tower sale to Grain
Company officials at TowerCo have announced the sale of 253 towers and 95 other assets to Grain Infrastructure II, L.P., a private equity firm in Sarasota, Fla., for $244 million. The sale marks the third portfolio of towers and assets sold by TowerCo since 2008 when the company sold 430 towers to SBA Communications for $193.5 million. The sale elevates …
Connect-it Wireless’ grand opening in Florida helps to benefit the Hubble Foundation
When Jim and Faith Schultz co-founded wireless manufacturer and distributor Connect-it Wireless Components in 2003, their storage bay working area was less than 100 square feet. Growth required a move to a 500 sq. ft. building and then to a facility that would allow for future expansion for years to come – a 10,000 sq. ft. building in Jupiter, Fla. …
Alpha Networks acquires Xcell, putting Moskowitz at the helm
Alpha Networks LLC has announced the acquisition of Xcell Inc., a leading tower construction and service business headquartered in Dallas, Tex. and providing services throughout the Southern region of the U.S. for more than a decade. The business will continue to operate under the Xcell name and brand. Alpha Networks has brought in new management, led by industry veteran Michael Moskowitz into the …
Sprint’s anticipated spending for 2016 takes a 40% haircut
Sprint’s announcement that it is going to invest $3 billion in network expansion during fiscal 2016, which started for the carrier on April 1, 2016, is a sharp decline from fiscal 2015’s $5.4 billion which was already down $0.7 billion from 2014. Last year, Sprint indicated it would spend $15 billion over three years on network build-outs, financing some of …
Alliance’s bankruptcy filing leaves contractors and suppliers with no recourse
Cell site project management and construction company Alliance Management Services of Louisville, Ky. posted on their Facebook page last year that “2013 was practice, 2014 was the warm up and 2015 is game time”. But the company’s game plan proved to result in a failed opportunity and Alliance filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization with U.S. Bankruptcy Court or the …
Eyes are on Sprint as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon provide favorable capex reports
Although subscriber growth is a good indicator of a carrier’s favorable outlook by analysts, capex is the tailwind of wireless infrastructure providers, and this week’s news deflated the sails of a number of analysts who have speculated that carriers would cut their capex in early 2016. In his typical over the top presentation with a 360-degree camera, T-Mobile CEO John …
Carriers agree upon network resiliency framework for disasters and emergencies
Carriers today said they’re in agreement on how to facilitate information-sharing in an effort to improve network resiliency before, during and after natural disasters and emergencies. House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone and CTIA the Wireless Association released the “Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework” with the backing of AT&T Inc., Sprint Corp., T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon …
A Pope and carrier exec quote highlight cell phones and mobile/spiritual networks
The rote quote of the week comes from a British carrier executive who finds that cell site permitting is too tough in the UK, while the Pope quote of the week told teens that life without Jesus is like a smartphone without bars. British carrier Arqiva’s director of M2M, Nicolas Ott, said in an interview, that “In rural areas we …
