Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) today announced the launch of Level 3 Tower Access – a new service that offers direct wireless tower connectivity to the Level 3 network. Tower Access provides wireless carriers with more efficient and cost-effective options for wireless backhaul in metropolitan and rural locations. The first phase of this initiative will target unserved and underserved markets focusing on areas with the greatest concentration of end-user demand.
“Mobile data traffic will grow by an order of magnitude between 2009 and 2012,” said Jennifer Pigg, vice president of enabling technologies for Yankee Group. “Mobile operators are scrambling to meet this capacity demand cost effectively in their wireless backhaul networks. Direct wireless tower access to the Level 3 network offers a unique service for wireless carriers to optimize network performance and capacity.”
Level 3 Tower Access offers the capabilities to place wireless towers on or near existing Level 3 network facilities. Level 3 has identified more than 300 tower-ready network sites with the geography and right-of-way access to support the addition of wireless towers. Level 3 is working with multiple partners to erect wireless carrier-neutral towers directly on the Level 3 network in these locations.
Primarily located in rural areas, Level 3 Tower Access offers an alternative to incumbent providers, delivering a broad portfolio of voice, data and Internet services directly from the tower site. These services provide wireless carriers with more competitive options to backhaul wireless traffic and scale their network capabilities as mobile bandwidth and end-user demand continue to grow.
Level 3 Tower Access also offers shared infrastructure for wireless carriers to expand their wireless networks without the expense of costly fiber builds or dedicated tower access. Shared infrastructure creates an open platform for network connectivity that supports a broad range of technologies, regardless of the carrier or service.
“Level 3 has been a key enabler of the wireless ecosystem for over 10 years,” said Sureel Choksi, chief marketing officer for Level 3. “Level 3 Tower Access offers the next evolution of our services to support wireless carriers as they keep pace with the growing consumer appetite for mobile connectivity.”
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