RCN Corp. has partnered with First Avenue Networks to push ahead a plan to use wireless technologies to touch commercial customers that are unreachable by RCN’s fiber plant.
First Avenue Networks, a fixed wireless broadband service provider, plans to equip RCN’s Business Solutions division with the gear necessary to wirelessly extend its plant to commercial customers, and offer speeds up to 155 Mbps. In return, RCN will provide backhaul services for First Avenue’s fixed line and mobile carrier customers.
Initially, RCN and First Avenue have set up a trial in New York City. The companies said they could later install the technology in other RCN markets, including Philadelphia/Lehigh Valley, Washington, D.C.; Boston, and Chicago.
“Providing wireless extension to RCN’s fiber-optic networks will leverage and complement our existing and planned mobile backhaul activities,” said First Avenue President & CEO Michael Gallagher, in a statement.
First Avenue said it holds nearly 600 MHz of spectrum in the top 75 U.S. markets.