FiberTower Corporation | Setting New Standards in Backhaul Services

Program Overview

Middle Mile Solution

State Application Details
AL-MS
GA-TN-AL-SC
IN-KY-MI
MA-CT-NY-VT
MS-TN-AR
TX-LA-NM
VA-MD-TN-WV

Technical Architecture

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Network Overview

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As shown in the Figures above, the network will consist of broadband-enabled sites called MuniFrames® that are located in or in close proximity to unserved/underserved communities. MuniFrame® locations will be designed to provide TDM (T1, DS3), Ethernet Private Line and Dedicated Internet Access services with at least 100 Mbps of backhaul capacity available per site. Wireless carriers and other last-mile service providers who are co-located at the sites will have direct access to Internet backhaul capacity or to other private line services. Additionally, the services will be made available to other MuniFrame beneficiaries, including business customers and community anchor institutions, at remote end user locations via microwave-based last mile links.

MuniFrames® are linked together in chains consisting of 1 – 3 hops of microwave radios. Depending on the rain zone and to maximize distances between the sites, suitable frequencies from the common carrier band will be chosen for the microwave links. Inter-site distances will typically range from 20 – 30 miles at 6 GHz to 5 miles or lower at 11 GHz and higher frequencies. The typical distance from a fiber route to an unserved/underserved community with a 3 hop chain is expected to be around 50 miles. Additional coverage to wholesale end user locations is expected to be within 4 miles of a MuniFrame®.

TDM and Ethernet traffic from the MuniFrame® is transported across these chains and aggregated at a Fiber Exchange Point (FEP). An FEP interconnects the radio-chains to inter-city (long haul) fiber routes. Traffic at an FEP is groomed to linear OC48/192 trunks that link multiple FEPs built along that fiber route. FEPs will be homed to one or more Internet Access points within carrier hotels located in the metropolitan areas at either end of the long-haul route.

FiberTower (FTWR) provides mission and business critical transport solutions, including backhaul and premise access services, to major wireless carriers, enterprises and government agencies. FiberTower networks, which are designed using nationwide spectrum and an optimal mix of wireless and fiber technologies, offer carrier-grade performance, point-to-point and point-to-multipoint capabilities, and TDM to Ethernet service platforms. FiberTower delivers backhaul services to the leading wireless carriers in 14 major U.S. markets, as well as premise access services through enterprise and government partners. Partnering with the some of the largest wireless infrastructure operators in the US, FiberTower has become the first transport provider building high capacity solutions available anywhere within the country and backing them with new, advanced operational and service standards. FiberTower trades on the NASDAQ National Market under the ticker symbol "FTWR". For more information, please visit:

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