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Subscribe • Advertise Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Volume 9 | Issue 92

Three Chinese Telecoms to be Delisted from NYSE UPDATE Shares of three major Chinese telecom carriers will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange after their appeals against being dropped were rejected, reports Markets Insider.

China Mobile, Unicom (Hong Kong), and China Telecom said they all expected the NYSE to request permission from the Securities and Exchange Commission to delist their American depositary receipts, according to the account. The SEC said the delisting will take effect in ten days, according to the account.

In response, stated it will continue to pay close attention to the development of “related matters and seek professional advice to protect the lawful rights of the company and its shareholders.” Continue Reading

UScellular Readies for Competition By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor UScellular (NYSE: USM) has strategic initiatives and priorities underway that position the company to compete in its operating area while driving long-term growth.

The company reported 1Q21 service revenues of $771 million, up 1 percent from $762 million in 1Q20. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $302 million, up 8 percent on a year-over-year basis. USM is guiding 2021 mid- point service revenues and adjusted EBITDA to $3.1 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively.

Capital expenditures of $125 million in 1Q21 were down nearly 50 percent from $236 million in 1Q20. USM’s for full- year 2020 reached $940 million, the highest in its history, for 5G and network modernization. Continue Reading

SaaS B+T Group’s Site360 Sees Better Than 20/20 Tulsa, Oklahoma-based B+T Group is a wireless engineering, site acquisition and construction services firm that leverages its proprietary Site360 technology to help customers shorten on-air time and save money. Created in 2014, the Site360 platform uses photogrammetry and 3D imagery to provide the most accurate asset documentation and measurement for state-of-the- art site inspection.

Founders Dinesh Bhat and Chad Tuttle, CEO, launched B&T Engineering in 2000, as a home- based consulting and structural engineering firm, after recognizing the growing need for structural analysis due to co- location on wireless towers. B+T Group now offers turnkey services with a collective mission to “accelerate the world’s communications through ambition, innovation and extraordinary service.”

“Site360 was first developed as an internal tool to give our engineers and CAD designers better information. The previous method to collect data was pretty antiquated,” says Tuttle.

B+T Group’s experienced network of pilots operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that follow automated flight plans to collect comprehensive data on an entire communications site in one visit. Continue Reading

FCC to Launch $7.17 Billion Connectivity Fund Program The FCC Monday adopted final rules to implement the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. The $7.17 billion program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The program will enable schools and libraries to purchase laptop and tablet computers, WiFi hotspots, and broadband connectivity for students, school staff, and library patrons in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Far too often, students, teachers, and library patrons lack the access they need to broadband and connected devices. This need has become even more apparent during these unprecedented times,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Between this Emergency Connectivity Fund Program and the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, we are investing more than $10 billion in American students and households. They will help close the Homework Gap for students nationwide and give so many more households the ability to connect, communicate, and more fully participate in modern life.”

The new rules define eligible equipment and services, service locations, eligible uses, and reasonable support amounts for funding. It designates the Universal Service Administrative Company as the program administrator with FCC oversight, and leverages the processes and structures used in the E-Rate program for the benefit of schools and libraries already familiar with that program. Find details of the program here.

Puerto Rican Carrier Liberty Triples Revenue Under AT&T Since incorporating AT&T’s wireless and wireline operations in the fall of 2020, Liberty Puerto Rico has seen an upswing in revenue, reports NewsIsMyBusiness.com. Liberty's 5G service currently reaches 95 percent of the population in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to the financial report, the AT&T onboarding move last October has resulted in a 245 percent increase in profits.

“We’re very happy with the way the transition is going,” said Liberty Puerto Rico CEO Naji Khoury. “The numbers for this quarter show we’re headed in a good direction. We’re very grateful for our customers who are showing their trust and will continue to see how much more we can offer them under the Liberty brand.” Continue Reading

May 10, 2021 at Close

Colony’s Andean Telecom Partners Closes Debt, Plans for Growth Andean Telecom Partners (ATP), owned by Colony Capital, has closed its $375,000,000 debt offering, worth 4.05 percent Senior Secured Notes due 2026.

"We are extremely excited for the future. This funding will enable us to continue investing in the strategic growth opportunities that support our valued client partners in their critical efforts to expand and modernize connectivity throughout the Andean region," said Daniel Seiner, CEO of ATP. "I'm pleased to welcome our new investors to the ATP family."

The offering was completed through its subsidiaries ATP Tower Holdings, Andean Tower Partners Colombia SAS, Andean Telecom Partners Peru SRL and Andean Telecom Partners Chile SpA, which were guaranteed its subsidiaries ATP Fiber Colombia SAS, Redes de Fibra del Peru SRL and ATP Fiber Chile SpA, according to Capacity Media. Continue Reading

New York A Two-Tower Tango Plays Out in New York The original request was simple, reports Riverhead Local. Crown Castle wanted to take down two towers and replace them with a single monopole. Things have not gone smoothly in Riverhead, NY, with challenges launched and lawsuits flying, according to the account. But now the town board has okayed the cell tower permit that will allow the project to move ahead.

The issue started when Crown Castle could not come to terms with the property owners of the two current sites. Instead, the company proposed removing both towers and erecting one 120-foot tower at a new location. The Riverhead Zoning Board of Appeals gave Crown Castle access to the new site. But there was a stipulation that the towerco would agree replacement towers would not be built on the two original sites. Continue Reading

Maine Upgrades Broadband Standards Before Doling Out Grants The ConnectMaine Authority (ConnectME) is poised to distribute a $15 million state bond coupled with taxpayer grants to expand and improve broadband, reported the Portland Press Herald. Before doling out the funds, ConnectME is proposing new guidelines to ensure broadband projects will provide “dramatically faster speeds than the current minimum standard” and expand coverage to unserved areas, affecting 11 percent of the state.

According to Director Peggy Schaffer, the authority is committed to making sure the investment will meet current and future broadband needs and speeds. “Generally, the public just wants it to work,” Schaffer said. “That is what we want to do, to make sure people don’t have the spinning circle of death as they try to connect to the , especially on a network the state has partially paid for.” Continue Reading

FTC Criticizes Manufacturers for Limiting Product Repairs The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a report on how manufacturers limit product repairs. Called “Nixing the Fix,” the 50+ page document details a bevy of repair restrictions, especially those imposed by and car manufacturers.

The anticompetitive practices covered by the FTC range from limited availability of spare parts and diagnostic software to designs that make repairs more difficult than needed. In response, the FTC wants to develop new laws and rules surrounding repairs, but it says it also wants better enforcement of existing legislation like the Magnuson- Moss Warranty Act (MMWA). The Act bars manufacturers from using access to warranty coverage as a way of obstructing consumers’ ability to have their products maintained or repaired using third-party replacement parts and independent repair shops. Continue Reading

Australia’s National Broadband Network Deploying 900,000 Fiber Connections Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) Co announced it would deploy 900,000 fiber connections across the suburbs and towns of Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, according to ARN. This news follows NBN’s commitment in September 2020, to invest $3.5 billion to upgrade its network, including fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) connections.

NBN will enable access to download speeds of nearly 1 Gbps on demand by 2023, provided customers order plans based on eligible wholesale speed tiers. For FTTC customers not currently eligible for higher speed tiers, NBN will require 100/20 Mbps plans or higher to qualify for a fiber upgrade, reported ARN.

“We very deliberately rolled out the National Broadband Network at pace across Australia using a range of technologies to ensure we could provide access to high speed broadband services across Australia as quickly as possible,” said NBN Co CEO Stephen Rue.

Telus Expands British Columbia 5G Network As part of its long range plans, Canadian telecom is moving forward with 5G outreach, bringing connectivity to over 200 new communities within the province. VancouverIsAwesome.com notes the total $54 billion nationwide investment (through 2024) will focus on British Columbia, but will also include over 330 other communities across Canada.

Telus projections call for spending between $500 to $700 million in 2021 to bring 5G to approximately one million households and businesses by the end of the calendar year. An additional $750 million to $1 billion is budgeted for 2022. Telus estimates that their efforts will reach 70 percent of Canadian residents.

Recently severing its ties with , Telus has partnered with Ericsson and Nokia for its 5G plans. Telus also has ties to Samsung Electronics and is keeping its eye on rivals Bell and Rogers, which is currently in talks to acquire fellow telecom company . Rogers has announced its own plans for Western Canada, saying that it intends to spend $2.5 billion on its own 5G rollout.

Ascender Tools for Climbers by Ronin Revolution

Tower climbing has been cited as one of the most dangerous jobs anywhere.

Even though industry associations and government agencies go to great lengths to establish safety standards and practices, working above ground level is still dangerous.

Beyond just working at heights, a big part of the problem is the physical toll that climbing up and down tall structures demands. Fatigue becomes a critical factor and raises the risk level for workers.

Tools are available to assist climbers in a variety of at-height work activities on cell towers, wind turbines, utility high- power transmission towers, and more.

Bryant Bertrand, CEO of Ronin Revolution has been instrumental in developing such tools. He discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers’ Business Editor, his company’s invention of, and applications for, the Ronin Lift, an ascender product designed to assist climbers. Hear this and much more on the podcast, available on our website, Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes ... and view their latest brand video here.

VIAVI Solutions and Avalon Test Equipment Present... May 19, 2021 9:30 a.m. PST

VIAVI Solutions and Avalon Test Equipment have teamed up to combine their expertise in test and measurement for an upcoming webinar, “Fiber and Sweep Testing with Test Process Automation.” Register here.

The presentation offers training on test process automation for cell installation and troubleshooting. This includes cable and antenna analysis (sweep testing), fiber inspection and OTDR, an introduction to PIM analysis/mitigation methods via RFoCPRI, and a live demo.

Test process automation (TPA) is integral to VIAVI DNA. Each field instrument and system is designed to optimize technician workflows. The goal is to enable novice technicians to deliver expert-level test results and close projects on the first try, every time. For more details and to register, visit here.

Peppertree Capital Hires Managing Director to Focus on Fiber Networks Peppertree Capital Management, Inc. hired Arnoud Krijt as a Managing Director to focus on investments in, and the acquisition of, fiber networks. Prior to joining Peppertree, Krijt was the Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, of Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ: UNIT) where he led Uniti’s fiber acquisition efforts.

Howard Mandel, Co-President of Peppertree Capital said, “While we have made more than 100 communication infrastructure investments including in the fiber space, adding Arnoud’s expertise and deal access is a game changer. He is recognized throughout the fiber industry as a top investment professional.”

Krijt added, “I am proud to join the Peppertree team. With their strong track record, access to capital, and investment flexibility, I am highly confident we can capitalize on the growing demand for fiber connectivity. I look forward to this new chapter.”

Towerxchange Meetup Americas July 13 - 15, 2021 While the pandemic has been hitting CALA countries very hard, regional telecom infrastructure players and MNOs are dealing with its effects on connectivity, data demand and investment constraints.

Two major trends keep emerging across the region. On one hand, towercos are still eyeing consolidation opportunities, with well known as well as new buyers actively acquiring portfolios in various geographies. While this is not a new theme, it’s interesting to note as CALA is definitely entering a new phase of maturity, with the first generation of PE-backed towercos almost completely gone.

On the other hand, more entrepreneurial towercos have made the leap and now serving MNOs beyond steel and grass, offering a wider array of solutions to their customers, from energy solutions to access control all the way to fiber to the tower. What is the limit to innovation and to what infracos – and netcos – are prepared to offer?

These themes and more will take center stage at the 8th annual TowerXchange Meetup Americas. TowerXchange is currently organizing a virtual event complemented by a physical add-on day. Click here for more details on this hybrid event.

Milestone Towers: Construction Management Associate

Milestone Towers, a leading wireless tower developer based in Reston, Virginia, seeks a Construction Management Associate to join its small, friendly team. This position plays an integral role in Milestone's New Site Development program, providing permitting and management support for the company’s development and construction teams. The Construction Management Associate also supervises and coordinates wireless carrier installations and modifications.

The ideal candidate has 2-5 years of experience in project management (preferably within the real estate or industry) and a bachelor’s degree in civil or construction engineering, real estate, or a related field. We’re looking for someone who is self-directed, pays attention to details, communicates well, meets deadlines and enjoys working with a team. If this sounds like you, please email a cover letter and your resume to [email protected].

Stacking of a 300’ Guyed Tower in Lumberton, NC by SCI Towers.

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