Officials located in Delaware County, NY, a rural community northeast of Binghamton, met recently to discuss their connectivity options. Members of the Delaware County Public Safety Committee were asked if prospective telecoms would be interested in making use of communications towers currently owned by the county. As the Daily Star reports, the response was a resounding “no.”
Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is currently working to install equipment in Sidney Center, a location selected because it is closer to the population it is attempting to serve. The county cell towers are situated in a more remote, mountainous region that did not tempt any providers to make use of them.
“Other than the email telling us they’re absolutely not interested in Mount Pisgah,” said County Emergency Services Director/Fire Coordinator Steve Hood of the telecoms, “They do not want to go up there.”
County 911 Coordinator Mark Rossley suggested to the Committee that 5G delivery works differently and does not benefit from large cell towers, instead relaying signals along smaller, more closely placed sites. He noted that traditional cell towers do not have the range to effectively deliver 5G service, according to the Daily Star.
“AT&T (NYSE: T) is putting up micro cells down through the Route 28 corridor, like Phoenicia Way, and we’re trying to get some contacts there,” Middletown Town Supervisor Glen Faulkner added. “Those are good solutions. If you have a dead spot at an intersection. These are pole mounted and don’t require site reviews. If I find out anything, I’ll let you know, because that will fill some of the dead spots.” He also noted that Margaretville Telephone Company is setting up a trial WiFi hotspot to cover an area currently lacking cell service, noting that it’s “an interim solution.”
Reader Interactions