Move Toward Fiber-Network Providers Creates Significant Cost Savings While Dramatically Increasing Bandwidth for Mobile Applications
Bellevue, Wash. — Sep. 18, 2008
T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced today that it has signed backhaul agreements with Bright House Networks, FPL FiberNet, IP Networks Inc. and Zayo Bandwidth to support high speed data bandwidth requirements. The agreements cover sites in Tampa, Fla., Orlando, Fla., South Florida, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Memphis, Tenn., respectively.
When fully implemented over the next six to 18 months, these deployments will help to enable T-Mobile to deliver high-speed, third-generation (3G) wireless network services in a significantly less expensive manner. They will also expand existing network capacity and bandwidth to accommodate new, data-hungry mobile services and applications using HSDPA technology.
“We are pleased to be a part of this agreement by providing fiber networks to T-Mobile cell sites in Tampa Bay and Orlando,” said Nick Lenoci, corporate vice president, Business Solutions, Bright House Networks. “This is a great collaboration that connects our resources and gives our customers the ability to expand mobile technology effectively in our markets.”
“FPL FiberNet is excited to be able to provide T-Mobile with expanded backhaul services and network reach in South Florida.” said Carmen Perez, FPL FiberNet president. “This agreement demonstrates our commitment to supporting the growing needs of T-Mobile for fast, efficient, and reliable transport.”
“The large number of cell sites committed by T-Mobile demonstrates their intent to lead the way for next-generation wireless services in the high data consuming, early-adopter markets of metro San Francisco and Silicon Valley,” said Gary George, president of IP Networks. “This is the type of Ethernet roll-out the industry has been talking about for years. Their strategic decision to deploy this backhaul solution allows for reliable and long-term network optimization.”
“T-Mobile is proactive in ensuring their network is ready to meet the growing bandwidth required to support mobile data applications with high quality,” said John Scarano, COO of Zayo Group and president of Zayo Bandwidth. “Zayo’s deep fiber footprint in Philadelphia and Memphis enables us to provide T-Mobile end-to-end wireless backhaul services in a cost effective manner. We look forward to partnering with T-Mobile to provide similar service in other markets.”
“Consumer demand for mobile Web services, rich media and applications continues to grow,” said Dave Mayo, vice president of engineering, T-Mobile USA. “Each of these partners will assist us in meeting customer needs by delivering high-capacity fiber connectivity to T-Mobile’s cell sites in these major markets. This will provide a highly cost-effective delivery mechanism for mobile data services using our new 3G network and our existing 2G networks.”
New mobile applications carried by technologies such as HSDPA require significantly greater bandwidth than today’s applications. Each of these providers, in some of the most dynamic U.S. markets, operate an all-fiber network capable of providing capacity several times in excess of current requirements and allowing substantial room for future growth.
The agreements announced today, which provide much higher bandwidth capabilities and cost savings, are as follows:
- Bright House Networks — Tampa and Orlando. T-Mobile has signed an agreement with Bright House Networks to utilize Bright House Networks’ extensive fiber distribution plant to provide backhaul in central Florida.
- FPL FiberNet — South Florida. T-Mobile will now announce its relationship with FPL FiberNet as its backhaul carrier in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in South Florida.
- IP Networks — San Francisco. T-Mobile has signed an agreement with IP Networks to provide Ethernet backhaul services in the greater San Francisco area. IP Networks has built and operates an extensive Ethernet Over Fiber telecommunications system primarily on the utility infrastructure of Pacific Gas and Electric Company. With 1,060 cell sites, the contract with IP Networks is reported to be among the largest all-fiber backhaul agreements in the country.
- Zayo Bandwidth — Philadelphia and Memphis. Zayo Bandwidth is a provider of high-capacity, fiber-based bandwidth services. T-Mobile’s agreement with Zayo covers the Philadelphia and Memphis metropolitan areas, and more than 450 unique sites. The agreement with Zayo in Philadelphia was among the first all-fiber backhaul agreements entered into by T-Mobile.
Lindsay Morio
T-Mobile USA Media Relations
425-383-4002
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the first quarter of 2010, approximately 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group - 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA - all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.