Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZAYO) says it is partnering with four wireless carriers to increase capacity, meeting the mobile traffic demands expected during Super Bowl LII. Zayo is also working with these wireless carriers to increase capacity to accommodate ongoing demand in the Minneapolis, MN, area where the event will be held February 4, 2018.
According to Zayo, Super Bowl LI in Houston was also supported by its mobile infrastructure, and broke the single-day wireless data use mark, with at least 37.6 terabytes of data consumed, and approximately half of the 70,000 fans shared messages, photos, and videos over their mobile phones that day. Super Bowl LII is expected to attract over 1 million people to the area for the day and the week's events. Zayo anticipates that the game, which will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium, will also generate significant mobile traffic.
With capacity demand in the Minneapolis area growing, Zayo continues to expand its footprint in the area. The company acquired Access Communications in 2013 as part of this expansion (see "Zayo acquisition of Access Communications to expand Minnesota fiber footprint"). Zayo's Minnesota footprint includes over 8,000 route miles across the state and more than 5,000 metropolitan route miles. Zayo's projects with these wireless carriers will further broaden its footprint, the company says.
Over the past two years, Zayo has been working to install and turn up cell towers, small cells, and DAS antennas associated with signed contracts from the four wireless carriers. In October, it was chosen by what it described as one "major wireless carrier" for deployment of over 500 small cell sites in two unidentified metro areas (see "Zayo receives small cell contract from major wireless carrier").
"Our local team has been working aggressively throughout the fall to turn up these mobile sites in preparation for Super Bowl 52," said Randy Brogle, Zayo's senior vice president, dark fiber solutions, central region. "This infrastructure will improve speed and capacity in the metro Minneapolis area not only for the event but for the long-term benefit of the residents and businesses."
According to the Metropolitan Council, the Minneapolis population has grown approximately 10 percent since 2010. A developing base of enterprise and emerging growth companies, as well as16 Fortune 500 companies, have made the metro area home. The infrastructure will support the accompanying increase in traffic in the Minneapolis metro area and prepare for 5G, says Zayo.
Zayo plans to provide its mobile infrastructure, including fiber backhaul and fronthaul, along with full turnkey implementation, including RF design, site acquisition, permitting and equipment installation. Zayo says its infrastructure will be used to densify existing mobile networks, enabling carriers to meet capacity and speed requirements in high-usage areas for the Super Bowl, and permanently.
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