PCCA Journal 1st Quarter 2014 - page 38

PCCA Journal|1
st
Quarter 2014
38
T
he nation’s small, indepen-
dent telecommunications
providers continue to make
wireless service a top
priority, but competition
with large national carriers and difficul-
ties securing financing and spectrum for
those projects pose significant challenges,
according to a new survey by NTCA—the
Rural Broadband Association.
The association’s “2013 Wireless Sur-
vey Report” found that 60 percent of re-
spondents are providing wireless service
to their customers. Eighty-two percent
of those providing wireless service offer
fixed broadband, 49 percent provide
mobile voice, 43 percent provide mobile
broadband, and 29 percent provide fixed
voice services.
However, the majority of respondents
reported that while investment in wire-
less services continues to be a priority,
the ability to compete with national car-
riers for potential customers remains a
top concern. Seventy-three percent of all
respondents indicated that competition
from nationwide carriers is a significant
concern in providing wireless services,
followed by the ability to make neces-
sary investments, handset/equipment
availability, and the ability to obtain
spectrum at auction.
Obtaining spectrum is a common
concern among small, rural wireless
communications providers, which lack
the scope of operations and buying
power to bid for large blocks at auction.
Just over two-thirds of respondents that
are currently providing wireless service
indicated they hold at least one spectrum
license, but the majority of respondents
using wireless spectrum for backhaul
said it will not be adequate to meet fore-
casted future needs.
“Due to their size and scale of opera-
tions, small wireless carriers are at an
extreme disadvantage when compet-
ing with larger carriers for potential
customers,” said NTCA Economist Rick
Schadelbauer. “This disadvantage can be
lessened, to some extent, by rules that
mandate fairness in negotiating roaming
agreements or that give smaller entities a
realistic opportunity to compete for and
obtain spectrum at auction. It is critical
that these and other important safe-
guards continue to allow small providers
to do what they do best: provide high-
quality service to customers in the most
remote areas of our country.”
NTCA’s wireless survey was conducted
in the fall of 2013. More than 100 NTCA
member companies participated.
GlobeNet Completes Subsea
Network Extension to Colombia
G
lobeNet, an international wholesale provider
of submarine capacity, recently announced it
has completed construction on a extension of
its subsea network to Colombia. The anchor
tenant on the new express route, from its
landing on Colombia’s Atlantic coast to Miami, Fla., is UNE
EPM Telecomunicaciones, the largest internet provider and a
leading full-service telecom operator in Colombia.
“We have a strong focus on serving the Latin America re-
gion and are committed to supporting Colombia’s growth and
development of its ICT infrastructure,” said Erick W. Contag,
GlobeNet president and COO.
The build is a direct extension from GlobeNet’s existing
subsea cable system connecting the United States, Venezuela,
Brazil, and Bermuda and addresses the increased demand
for high capacity in Colombia. This subsea extension to the
GlobeNet cable system was awarded to Alcatel-Lucent. 
“The Latin America region is such a fast-growing market,
spurring the need for high-performance networks,” said
Philippe Dumont, president of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine
Networks. “The new GlobeNet express route is designed
to handle the latest optical submarine technology across
the same platform, enabling seamless capacity upgrades as
needed to keep up with market demand.”
Wireless Service Is
Priority for Rural Providers
Telecom News
Continued from page 37
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