CLEVELAND, Sept. 2, 2017 : Mobilitie, the largest privately-held wireless infrastructure provider in the United States, today named Cleveland, Ohio a recipient of its Connected City Award in recognition of improvements made to the city's wireless networks.
The "Connected City Award" recognizes cities that demonstrate remarkable leadership that help bridge the digital divide by bringing 21st-century wireless access and capacity to its neighborhoods, educational systems and businesses. Cleveland is the third city nationwide to receive the award.Working with city officials, Mobilitie has invested millions of dollars and installed dozens of its small cell sites across northern Ohio, densifying wireless networks and dramatically increasing capacities, capabilities and speeds, particularly for mobile data. The company added its antennas and radios primarily on existing structures, like street lights, making the entire deployment virtually unnoticeable.
In addition, the new densified wireless network provides the foundation for 5G, the network necessary for the next wave of innovation including virtual reality, self-driven cars, remote control homes, and more. It will also bring ultra-fast 4G and 5G services to more people, including areas that have previously been underserved.
"Mobilitie's small-cell technology makes world-class wireless voice and data networks happen at a fraction of the expense and time of traditional networks," said Christo Karmis, president of Mobilitie.
"We've done it in Cleveland working in partnership with progressive-thinking city officials, who realize that the next generation of innovation will require significant increases in capacity and functionality and the fraction-of-a second speeds 5G will deliver," said Karmis
Small-cell technology expands network coverage and capacity using limited infrastructure (radios are the size of a laptop bag) installed at unobtrusive locations to augment the coverage of wireless carriers. It requires minimal space, and low-power demands. The networks are 5G ready and designed to be upgradeable to accommodate future wireless demand.
"We're installing thousands of small cells across the country," said Karmis. "And as with Cleveland, these installs are permanent, unobtrusive long-term improvements to the communications experience that bring an unprecedented level of wireless connectivity - the lifeblood of 21st century economies -- that benefit residents, businesses and visitors."
