New CEO Nick Shanker, who brings more than 30 years’ experience in wireless operations and management, plans to expand CellSite Solutions into a nationwide, turnkey cell tower services and construction company to take on the 5G and fixed wireless network build outs.
Based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, CellSite Solutions was founded in 2009, renovating shelters in the telecommunications industry. Over the years, CellSite Solutions built teams of electricians, HVAC technicians, mechanical engineers, and civil engineers to manage projects including shelter and generator foundations, grounding, electrical work and compound fencing. In addition to shelters, CellSite Solutions expanded to offer backup generators, asset disposal, equipment removal, and complete decommissioning of a compound.
In September 2021, CellSite Solutions was purchased by Fort Point Capital, a Boston-based private equity firm. Fort Point Capital brought in Shanker as the CEO in 2022, along with Mat Hennings as CFO and Michael Smyth as COO. Shanker added Pat Healy as CRO and Todd Womack as EVP of the newly added Fixed Network Services division.
CellSite Solutions now provides end-to-end lifecycle management for cell tower projects: from planning, logistics and installation to maintenance and decommissioning.
Combining cell tower construction services with in-house electrical, civil, mechanical, and HVAC offerings will be the differentiator
for CellSite Solutions in the future. As Healy pointed out, many tower construction companies use subcontractors for that work. CellSite Solutions utilizes its extensive network, paired with its own cranes and trucking assets, to manage all transportation and deliver equipment quickly to get customers up and running.
“We felt that adding our experience in constructing wireless communication sites to CellSite Solutions’ in-house capabilities would create a perfect opportunity to grow this company quickly,” Healy said.
CellSite Solutions has begun forming tower crews, keeping a focus on the importance of safety as it expands into this vertical. To set the foundation, Jeff Hamm has joined CellSite Solutions to ensure that safety remains the top priority as future crewmembers are hired. Jeff has been instrumental in managing safety in the industry for over 20 years and is on the NATE Safety Committee. Bringing Jeff’s knowledge and leadership in the tower safety role will be critical to CellSite Solutions’ success, according to the company.
“We’re looking at all facets of our safety right now,” Healy said. “We want to move into the tower business with a very, very strong emphasis on safety and training.”
New Demand for Shelters
Wireless carriers have long represented the primary customer base for shelters. They utilize a combination of outdoor cabinets and shelters to store high demand fiber optic cabling and rack-mountable hardware. However, recently new customers have entered the market for both cabinets and shelters.
“We’re seeing opportunities in the smaller co-ops that have joined in the rural broadband buildout,” said Andrew Gallagher, Director of Sales. “We’re providing shelters, not only for those small organizations but also for the management companies that are helping them build out their networks.”
Going Nationwide
CellSite Solutions is building a nationwide presence. Previously, it was licensed as a general contractor in a few select states. However, by early 2024 it will be licensed in all 50 states. “This opens up the ability for us to do turnkey wireless business across the country,” Healy said.
CellSite Solutions has a 190,000 square foot warehouse and a large office building at its Iowa headquarters. In the last six months, smaller offices have opened in Coppell, TX and Salem, OR. The Company has also boosted its presence in Lincoln, AL, allowing it to offer shelter refurbishment and civil services closer to customers.
CellSite Solutions has deployed its full suite of cloud-based platforms, including NetSuite and Pathwave, to drive full turn-key implementation, quality control, and real-time data management.
Full Circle
CellSite Solutions is an environmental steward, recycling shelters and products to keep 17.5 million pounds of concrete out of landfills each year. Refurbished shelters installed at locations around the country will contain equipment for mobile edge computing, public safety E911 systems, and broadband fiber optics. CellSite Solutions crews can build towers, deploy equipment on the tower, and service any part of the cell site, providing a turnkey solution for 2023 and beyond.
For more information, visit https://cellsitesolutions.com/ or contact Laurie Smith, CellSite Solution Sales at [email protected], or 319.289.7043.
By J. Sharpe Smith Inside Towers Technology Editor
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