Mobile backhaul provider PEG Bandwidth LLC says it is expanding its fiber-optic network to serve 4G LTE operators in less populated and rural areas with the help of Alcatel-Lucent’s (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) IP/MPLS mobile backhaul portfolio.
The network expansion will span 1500 cell sites across ten states and over 6000 route miles of fiber throughout the central, mid-Atlantic, and northeastern United States. PEG Bandwidth says this will increase its U.S. network to over 13,000 route miles of fiber, passing 1.5 million buildings and serving more than 2600 municipalities.
PEG Bandwidth’s new deployments will help wireless operators in 10 U.S. states address the digital divide by providing them with carrier-class Ethernet services to meet increasing bandwidth demands from subscribers through the use of scalable cell-site bandwidth and aggregation capabilities in remote and rural areas
PEG Bandwidth’s network extension will include access to 20 additional mobile switching centers and 31 new points of presence (PoPs) such as data centers, carrier hotels, and central offices where service providers can access bandwidth on an as-needed basis.
In addition to offering Ethernet backhaul services to wireless operators, Alcatel-Lucent’s product portfolio will enable PEG Bandwidth to expand its customer base.
Rich Ruben, PEG Bandwidth’s chief executive officer said, “PEG Bandwidth is dedicated to solving the toughest challenges of our top-tier wireless operator customers to serve mobile subscribers in less densely populated areas with 4G technology. The Alcatel-Lucent platform allows PEG Bandwidth to not only offer the Carrier Ethernet services our wireless operator customers want and need to efficiently run their networks, PEG Bandwidth is now well positioned to leverage our fiber network to offer high bandwidth Ethernet services to traditional carriers and enterprises.”
Charles Marsh, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Americas region, said, “Our mobile backhaul technology is enabling PEG Bandwidth to bring high-bandwidth services to areas where it has not previously been available and improving the level of network access will have a significant economic impact in the rural markets PEG Bandwidth is addressing.”
Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile backhaul portfolio consists of the 7750 Service Router, 7705 Service Aggregation Router, 7210 Service Access Switch, and the 5620 Service Aware Manager. Alcatel-Lucent will also provide tools for traffic management and service monitoring. PEG Bandwidth’s customers will be able to verify their service level agreements with a web-based, self-service portal for reporting on service up-time and network performance.
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