Zayo has responded to the emerging Small Cell trend wireless operators are using to enhance network capacity and coverage by forming a specialized team that will craft fiber-based backhaul solutions for this segment.
In essence, small cells are antennas that wireless operators can attach to lamp posts and on the top of buildings.
Heading up the effort to expand its fiber footprint to Small Cell deployments will be David Dunn, who along with the new team will report to Matt Erickson, the current president of Zayo Fiber Solutions.
Extending its Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) solutions to Small Cell sites is not much of a stretch for the competitive provider. Already, it is in the process of building out its fiber network to 3,500 wireless towers serving all of the major wireless operators. Its FTTT footprint will be enhanced further when it completes its acquisition of AboveNet as it will be able to reach other tier one markets such as New York, San Francisco and Houston.
Currently in discussions with all members of the wireless infrastructure ecosystem--including wireless operators, tower companies, Distributed Antenna Systems companies, and wireless vendors--it plans to apply its experience in providing lit and dark fiber solutions at Macro sites to Small site scenarios.
The service provider's thesis is that because they have fiber available in over 50 markets they can address small cell deployments driven by the consumer and business user's demand for wireless data services. What's more, Zayo also offers a suite of Antenna Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) targeting distributed antenna systems (DAS), pico cells and remote radio heads.
Over the next five years, Cisco forecast in its 2012 VNI report that North American mobile data demand will increase 75 percent per year between 2011 and 2016.
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