With the U.S. major wireless wireless operators making good on their existing 3G and oncoming 4G LTE network drives, they`re going to need wireless backhaul capabilities outside markets where their wireline parent`s don`t reach and Intellifiber and Telecom Transport Management (TTM) are happy to help with those needs.
Intellifiber, the wholesale arm of Cavalier Telephone, has won a seven-year contract to provide TTM with high capacity wireless backhaul capabilities to serve about 500 cell towers across Virginia.
Although neither company would reveal the financial details of what they are calling a multi-million dollar deal, TTM will leverage Intellifiber`s wavelength services to serve its wireless customers in cities such as Richmond, Norfolk, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Williamsburg and Petersburg. Going forward, the two providers are examining other markets where a wireless backhaul pact could make sense to leverage Intellifiber`s fiber assets.
TTM and Intellifiber have continued to gain momentum as alternative wireless backhaul capacity providers, respectively. When Verizon (NYSE: VZ) announced its LTE backhaul partners, TTM was named as one its backhaul providers for the Minnesota market.
As for Intellifiber, while not ruling out the possibility of extending its network directly to cell sites, Clint Heiden, President of Intellifiber said in a previous interview with FierceTelecom that Intellifiber`s near-term strategy is focused on partnering with wireless backhaul providers including TTM.
"Some of these network providers are taking on 500 towers in areas such as Atlanta, Ga. or Florida," he said. "We`re partnering with a wireless backhaul provider that`s physically going to the towers at some capacity."
