Network Infrastructure

It’s been just over a month since AT&T network operations president Bill Smith told an audience at PCIA’s Wireless Infrastructure Show not to worry about the carrier’s $48 billion bid for DirecTV. “I don’t think anybody should be concerned that …

Mobile Minute: The Mobile Minute is sponsored by SpiderCloud Wireless. Dish Network is giving a new meaning to the term “cord cutter” with its latest pay TV innovation: a set-top box that connects to the Dish Hopper via superfast 802.11ac …

In IP networks, diameter signaling replaces SS7, but diameter does more than its predecessor. This report discusses current and emerging use cases for diameter signaling, as well as the potential for virtualization of diameter signaling control.What you will learn:  This …

As the nation’s top four carriers work to offer nationwide, high-speed data service, more cell towers are now supporting multiple carriers. But co-location is not enough; operators and tower companies say new towers are needed in many locations. “We are …

Small cells remain a bit of an enigma for the wireless space. Predictions for years have opined that the move to small cell deployments were just around the corner as surging demand for mobile data services had traditional wireless networks …

There are many drivers of change in the wireless industry, but four deserve special mention:

Sprint’s network challenges have been well known for some time as the carrier has struggled through its Network Vision upgrade program and resulting hit to its customer base and network quality. In an attempt to at least persuade customers to …

Welcome to this week’s edition of cell tower industry news, created by Jarad Matula and brought to you by Towercrews.net. Climber Dies in Texas Once again tragedy has struck in the tower industry this week. In San Angelo, Texas, a man who …

TE Connectivity says it will become “the leading provider of highly engineered connectivity and sensor solutions” through its purchase of Measurement Specialties (MEAS). TE Connectivity is paying $1.7 billion, or $86 per share. Measurement Specialties’ sensor technologies include pressure, vibration, …

Vendors focus on signaling The explosion in mobile data traffic has led to an even bigger increase in signaling traffic within the networks, and infrastructure vendors are focused on helping operators recognize and address the issue. There are different types …

Before the FIFA World Cup began, Brazilian telecom union SindiTelebrasil said that the operators’ networks were ready to handle the increased data and voice traffic, and during the first week of the tournament the wireless performance was closely watched. During the first games in each …

Vendors are working to make network equipment more flexible, power efficient and smaller to suit the needs of operators. Many of the newest offerings also are intended for use in improving wireless coverage in large, high-capacity venues such as stadiums, …

Telecom consolidation continues, with Level 3 (LVLT) announcing plans to buy TW Telecom (TWTC) in a $5.7 billion cash and stock deal that will give Level 3 a deeper fiber presence in many U.S. cities. Level 3 is paying $40.86 …

American Tower is expanding in Brazil, adding roughly 4,600 towers to the 7,200 towers it already has in that country. The company is buying BR Towers S.A for just under $1 billion. The purchase price will be a combination of …

The race towards the next evolution of mobile technology received a boost today as the European Commission and South Korea announced plans to work towards a common definition of “5G” technology. The Joint Declaration on Strategic Cooperation in Information Communications …

Small Cell Industry Awards The Small Cell Forum announced the Small Cell Industry Awards for 2014 as part of last week’s Small Cells World Summit in London. For small cell innovoation leadership, Alcatel-Lucent won for its site certification program. Cisco …

Performance monitoring company SevOne has launched what it says is the industry’s first appliance for log data analytics. The SevOne Performance Log Appliance is designed to allow real-time analytics on large volumes of log data, according to the company, allowing enterprises …

Unfortunately, for those of us not so gifted, PowerPoint’s remain a struggle to insert interesting information into a digital format that sucks the interest out of just about any non-animation information.

With wireless operators continuing to focus their network building and operating resources towards LTE-based services, the need to free up both financial and spectrum resources by decommissioning legacy operations continues to grow. Some operators have already plunged head-first into these …

Welcome to this week’s edition of cell tower industry news, created by Jarad Matula and brought to you by Towercrews.net. Tower climber injured, but OK This past week a tower climber was injured while working on a tower in Georgia. The …