Verizon to use small cells to supplement LTE

Verizon Wireless will deploy small cell technology to supplement its Long Term Evolution coverage and help manage its network capacity. "Small cells are one way we will keep up with the growth," said Verizon Wireless' executive vice president of network planning, Bill Stone. Verizon to use small cells to supplement LTE


That has obvious implications for mobile backhaul, including the likely need for more-affordable access circuits than are used to support macro cells. Up to this point, femtocells have been seen as tools to give consumers better in-home voice coverage. In an increasing number of cases, though, small cells will be used by carriers to beef up bandwidth in congested urban areas. 

Wireless backhaul will help triple Ethernet spending by 2016

By 2016, U.S. enterprises and consumers will spend over $44 billion on carrier Ethernet services, Insight Research now forecasts, up from $4 billion in 2011.

Insight Research: Wireless backhaul will help triple Ethernet spending by 2016

North America is Ripe for New Broadband Backhaul Facilities

North America appears to be ripe for new high-capacity backhaul from mobile tower sites to points of presence.

The reason? Mobile broadband is not matched by backhaul broadband. Most tower links use T1 connections running at 1.544 Mbps.

That clearly is not good enough for mass adoption of mobile broadband services. Internet service providers located in rural areas have additional problems, though. Quite often, regional connections between local points of presence and the nearest Internet PoPs also use T1 connections.

If you wonder why "middle mile" projects were so prominent in the first wave of broadband stimulus awards, that's why.