Acronyms Worth Knowing (AWK)

BBU – BaseBand Unit:

Unit that processes baseband signals. Still scratching your head? It is a unit that processes forward voice signals for transmission to a mobile unit and to process reverse voice signals between it and the RRH (more on this awesome acronym below). CPRI – Common Public Radio Interface: Standardized protocol used to transport a digitized baseband signal between the RRH and BBU.
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The Classroom: Fronthaul Fiber

Fronthaul: That’s A New One to Me - You Mean Backhaul? What???

So, what actually is “fronthaul?" The short answer is that fronthaul is essentially a fiber distribution network that provides connectivity between RRHs (See? The acronym section really does come in handy) in the field to the BBUs through a protocol known as CPRI. Neutral hosts are excited because it provides connectivity to more locations.
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Who’s On Tap - Interview with Mark H. Parr President & CEO, Bandwidth Logic

• What was the most exciting BW Logic announcement in 2014? 2014 was a successful year for Bandwidth Logic, marked by momentous achievements and strategic business wins. One milestone ...
• What’s new and exciting on the horizon? Bandwidth Logic is growing rapidly. We are currently in the midst of finalizing several exciting new business ventures, including projects with ...
• What’s the latest chatter in the industry? The latest chatter involves today’s mounting consumer demands for ubiquitous connectivity and rapidly growing mobile traffic. The Wi-Fi ...
• Who is an important player in the space according to you? Innovative companies that look beyond the existing and expected and implement disruptive technologies and infrastructures to handle the ...
• Who should we tap into for our next issue and why? Mobility is the fourth utility. In order to satisfy the wireless demands of tenants, large real estate investment trusts (REITs) that own commercial ...

News, news, news!

• Google Confirms Plan to Offer Wireless Service
  Google Inc. said it plans to launch a U.S. wireless service, raising a new risk of tension between the Internet company and the wireless carriers that support its Android mobile-operating system.
  Read Full Story (Source: Wall Street Journal)
• The Cellphone Imperative: If I Can’t Text, I’m Moving
  Poor cell phone and wireless reception in your home is an incredibly frustrating experience as many Americans rely on wireless communication as their main source of connectivity. In New York City, many apartment buildings are constructed in such a way that hinders wireless signals making it difficult for tenants to use their devices within their own homes. In an attempt to combat the issue, many modern developers are now employing the use of distributed antenna systems (DAS) fiber connections to provide enhanced wireless connectivity to inhabitants, bringing wireless service from a host of network providers throughout their buildings.
  Read Full Story (Source: The New York Times)
• Network Planning is the Key to Small Cell
  In an interview with Yann Le Helloco, Chief Technology Officer of InfoVista, HetNet Happenings host Sean Kinney explores network planning and optimization solutions for the successful deployment of small cells. During the 20-minute video, Le Helloco provides insight concerning the long-term impact of small cells on the evolving telecom landscape as well as a number of noteworthy events making headlines in the community.
  Read Full Story (Source: RCR Wireless)
• WiFi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateway Market: Analysis and Trends through Year 2020
  Small cell infrastructure, particularly base station deployment, is critical to the successful implementation of wireless communication. In this new report from Persistence Market Research (PMR), key findings explore the emerging market of WiFi enabled LTE small cell gateway base stations, including their geographic segmentation, company profiles and market forecasts through 2020.
  Read Full Story (Source: Industry Today)
• Driving Down the Cost of DAS
  Originally, DAS technology was employed almost exclusively within high-density areas, such as stadiums, airports and other large venues. The industry is shifting, and owners and operators of smaller-scale office and apartment buildings are now seeking DAS solutions to enhance mobile connectivity within these structures. The demand has led to newer, simplified solutions offered at lower costs to make this technology a reality, including converged infrastructure, centralized head-ends and multi-purpose antenna designs.
  Read Full Story (Source: RCR Wireless)
• Leading Research Firm Publishes The HetNet Bible (Small Cells, Carrier WiFi, DAS & C-RAN): 2014-2020
  Macrocell-based cellular networks are no longer making the grade when it comes to addressing the coverage and capacity needs of today’s wireless subscribers. In order to provide the necessary additional capacity to enable users’ mobile devices, strategically deployed small cells and WiFi access points are utilized by more than 200 global wireless carriers to enhance the end-user experience. A report from SNS Research explores the growing small cell, carrier WiFi, DAS and C-RAN markets, including comprehensive forecasts and statistics concerning revenue, shipment and standardization initiatives.
  Read Full Story (Source: WhaTech)

ZenFi, Inc. was founded with a vision of creating open access fiber to support Distributed Antenna System (DAS), small cell, and macro sites designed to enhance the wireless carrier network and enable the Internet of Things (IoT). The Company has since transformed this vision into reality, delivering IoT-enabling fronthaul, backhaul and wavelength connectivity to large enterprises, mobile wireless operators, and telecommunications service providers in the New York metro market through its wholly owned and operated, carrier-neutral dark fiber network. Fiber is only as useful as the path it traverses and customers’ ability to access it. ZenFi saw a problem with traditional fiber networks – fragmentation. Most networks are designed to provide either backhaul for wireless or enterprise connectivity. Our unique dark fiber network evolves typically fragmented legacy infrastructure to optimize density and network access, satisfying the growing need for fiber everywhere by delivering “any pair, anywhere.” The dark fiber network combines ZenFi’s revolutionary Access Network, built to support widely distributed wireless equipment interconnection and colocation, and its Express Network route, which links New York’s largest neutral data centers, carrier hotels and enterprise locations. When coalesced, these networks offer an innovative and cost-effective solution to the age-old industry challenge of deploying Fiber-to-the-Antenna (FTTA) in a dense urban environment. For more information, visit www.ZenFi.com.