During the 2016 Wells Fargo Convergence & Connectivity Symposium in Newport Beach, CA earlier this month, Mobilitie CEO Garya Jabara addressed growing speculation that Sprint’s large network densification has been stalled due to local zoning troubles.
Sprint had planned to deploy as many as 70,000 small cells in cities across the U.S., but recent reports have indicated the deployment is moving much slower than expected, due in part to Mobilitie’s handling of local zoning and permitting.
“Carriers are moving full steam ahead with their network upgrade projects and we predict more than a million small cell deployments within five years,” Jabara told the audience. “Our close cooperation with local authorities has allowed us to navigate bureaucratic processes and help service providers bring greater connectivity to communities across the country more quickly than ever before.”
Jabara’s message contradicted that of recent reports; for example, the Wall Street Journal reported two weeks ago that Sprint’s deployment was stalled as it awaits zoning approval for several small cells. Sprint recently reduced its capex guidance from an expected $4.5 billion to $3 billion, fueling speculation of a lagging deployment.
Not just Sprint, but the small cell market as a whole has seemingly slowed down due to difficulties at the local government level. Small cell deployments “have been rumored to be on hold” in roughly six U.S. markets, reported Fierce Wireless.
Wells Fargo senior analyst Jennifer Fritzsche, wrote in a recent research note that reports exaggerate the delayed deployment, and Mobilitie is actually moving much quicker than perceived.
“Finally, from Mobilitie, we heard a very contrarian and constructive view on Sprint’s network initiatives,” Fritzsche wrote. “Mobilitie did indicate despite all the noise out there, it is getting through the zoning and permitting stage much faster than the market appreciates and there have been no municipalities that have pushed a full-on moratorium on small cell deployment as some have speculated.”
Reader Interactions