For a company with a big vision of servicing clients and markets the world over, Baicells Technologies excels at thinking small. Their mantra is “Connect More with Less.” Since its inception in 2014, North American CEO, Bo Wei’s strategy has been to connect people and things in an easy and cost-saving way. So far, the micro view in a macro world has proved successful.
“The year has been terrific,” Wei told Inside Towers. “We’ve been able to introduce lots of products and our operators have done a lot of field testing.”
In its four years of existence, Baicells has deployed more than 550 LTE networks all over the world and accumulated over 300 patents. Its products range from small cell base stations and backhaul, to EPC. Wei points to some of the breakthrough technologies Baicells’ 350-person R&D staff have introduced for LTE, including OpenRAN architecture, SDN network based on IT architecture, as well as LTE on unlicensed spectrum (5.8 GHz/CBRS etc). For tower owners, Baicells has its best interests at heart in designing equipment for monopoles and macro towers that offers reduced weight and wind load, with one box holding antennas for two carriers.
Wei sees nothing but opportunity ahead in 2019. “It will be a very dynamic year.” he said citing upcoming license auctions, the Connect America Fund and a growing utility sector clientele. By offering end-to-end turnkey solutions, Baicells hopes to make it much easier for telecom operators and enterprises to provide wireless broadband within everyone’s reach. His company currently has more than 500 WISP customers all connected to their CloudCore and serviced out of two locations in the East and West United States.
“Cost efficiency and affordability is in our DNA,” Wei said. “We want low cost solutions for indoor and outdoor applications.”
Even with seemingly unlimited blue skies ahead, Wei sees trouble with small cell legislation, or lack thereof, making it tougher for deployment. “It’s been a hard time acquiring poles,” he said. “And the U.S. market is one of the worst,” he said. “The CBRS ruling should make it more friendly for rural operators.”
With over 600 deployments, working with over 20 of the 50 top global telecom operators and partnership agreements with the likes of Facebook, China Telecom, Intel and SoftBank; Baicells is making a big deal out of keeping it small.
By Jim Fryer, Managing Editor, Inside Towers
November 15, 2018
