FiberTower taps DragonWave for packet backhaul
Wholesale backhaul provider to use Horizon Compact to bring all-IP microwave technology to its spectrum
Published: 29 March, 2011
READ MORE: US | DragonWave | FiberTower Corporation | Backhaul
Microwave Ethernet backhaul provider DragonWave is best known for its Clearwire deal, but has been assembling a wider US footprint as broadband stimulus funds get released to rural players. Hard on the heels of deals with two of those operators, KeyOn Communications and NorthEast Wireless, it has announced a more significant contract, with backhaul wholesaler FiberTower.
As CEO Peter Allen said in his statement, "FiberTower is an important reference customer for DragonWave" since it will be a strong proof point of the robustness of the platform. FiberTower, a new incarnation of former LMDS access players First Avenue Networks and Teligent, supports wireless carriers with a wholesale wireless backhaul offering that supports 3G, WiMAX and LTE networks.
FiberTower will use its new supplier's Horizon Compact platform to support packet backhaul in its 24GHz and 39GHz spectrum. It currently has a combination of microwave and fiber offerings, but wanted a higher capacity converged packet backbone as its customers - nine US cellcos including Sprint - see their data needs mushroom and move towards all-IP technologies. The initial DragonWave installations are in Ohio and Texas and FiberTower operates in 13 major markets.
FiberTower merged with First Avenue in 2006, bringing together more than 1,000 sites, spectrum holdings in 24GHz and 39GHz, and customer relationships with five of the top 10 US cellcos at that time. FiberTower spotted the US wireless backhaul boom early and was founded with backing from three major cell tower owners - Crown Castle, SpectraSite and American Tower - and venture capitalists.
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