[April 29, 2013] RCN Business Services Teams with DAS Communications and PTS on WiFi and Small Cell Technology Tweet Apr 29, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- RCN Business Services, DAS Communications (DAS), LCC International Inc. (LCC) and Pacific Telemanagement Services (PTS) announced a partnership that will bring wireless services to urban areas through existing infrastructure, including traditional pay phone booths. According to a release, this solution is expected to increase the quality of service and reduce costs when compared to traditional wireless solutions. The partnership was announced at the WiFi and Small Cells North America Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Boston April 24-25. RCN, a local telecommunications company, is providing the backhaul necessary to connect the small cells to the core network. The partnership will also launch FreeBostonWiFi at 2 locations in downtown Boston in conjunction with a trial with DoIT, the City of Boston's Department of Innovation and Technology. FreeBostonWiFi is expected to expand to a wider phase of deployment by midsummer. "The partnership is giving new life to telephone booths that have almost become extinct due to the evolution of the cell phone," said Jeff Carlson, VP and General Manager, RCN Boston. "RCN Business Services is proud to partner with DAS, LCC and PTS because it's our priority to provide customers with access to the latest technology they need to conduct their lives. Small cell and WiFi technology deployed through this partnership is another step toward delivering high quality wireless by lighting up hot spots in Boston using RCN's unparalleled fiber network." "This is an exciting time to be in wireless," said Tyler Kratz, President of DAS Communications. "DAS and PTS are very pleased to be working with companies that have valuable assets, such as the backhaul capabilities of RCN and the deployment capabilities of LCC. DAS and PTS very much look forward to expanding the deployment of licensed small cells and free WIFI to ensure that Boston and other world class cities stay on the vanguard of wireless access and innovation." RCN Business Services, DAS, LCC and PTS will demonstrate the use of existing infrastructure, in this case, traditional pay phone kiosks, to house the small cell technology. RCN is providing bandwidth to DAS in locations around Boston using fiber feed to the small cells located in the pay phone kiosks. Additional pay phones are serviced off that location using micro-backhaul links. LCC has provided the technical expertise to design and deploy this small cell solution. "LCC is excited to support this innovative partnership and help bring a turnkey solution to the market. It's interesting and a little ironic that capacity demands from the cellular market has allowed for the repurposing of existing phone infrastructure, like payphone kiosks. Utilizing small cell technology, we can take advantage of the excellent kiosk locations throughout an urban area and deliver high quality cellular capacity at the street level," saidE.J. von Schaumburg, Vice President of Advanced Mobility Solutions, LCC. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]