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Feb 07, 2018 - 02:11 AM
Here is the approximate number of macrocells per carrier in the United States rounded to the nearest 5,000.
How many macro cells does each MNO operate today? Verizon, ATT, Sprint, and T-Mobile?
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Open Feb 04, 2018 - 09:04 AM
Wireless Infrastructure Industry Players > Wireless Carriers
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Ken,
Thank you for your answer--really helpful!
A few follow-up questions I'm hoping you can help me out with:
1) Through other research on your website, I saw you replied to another question back in March 2017 that there are ~320K macrocells in existence in the United States. The below graphic adds up to 240K macrocells. I am wondering who operates the remaining 80K macrocells (i.e. US Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Metro PCS, Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile)?
2) If two MNOs have nodes on the same structure, how is that being counted in your graphic? For instance, AT&T and Verizon each have a macrocell on the same tower, are you counting that as one macrocell for AT&T and one for Verizon?
Thank you very much for your time and help.
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Does the FCC not publish tower and spectrum assignments in the same manner as the Canadian regulator http://sms-sgs.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/sms-sgs-prod.nsf/eng/h_00010.html and https://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/cancellsites.html ?
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To the follow up - Boost, Cricket, and Metro PCS are owned by Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Those should be included in the graphic, is that right Ken?
I'd also be interested in the answer to the co-location question...
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Boost is included in Sprint, Cricket in AT&T, and MetroPCS in T-Mobile. US Cellular has 5K to 7.5K macros. Cinci Bell- my guess is 1K. As to the others estimated by the 320K, Other carriers like smaller regional carriers- 10K-20K.
I believe the FCC overestimates the actual number because they fail to eliminate sites that were decommissioned- like those from MetroPCS, Cricket, Clearwire, Alltel, Cingular, that were terminated due to overlap after the merger.
The FCC does not provide tower and specific site spectrum assignments as Canada does.
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Hello Ken, could you please tell me where i can find an updated picture of your marco cells graphic? I heard MNOs sites are about 48,4k in total... but i think that it should be wrong.. Thank you!
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We would have to create another graphic and update for the current numbers. That might be something we look into soon. The 484K number you are referring to is likely a reference to the FCC estimate. They get the actual data from the carriers who self-report. My guess is that AT&T double-reported cell sites when they added First Net- but I don't know that for sure. Best guess is that the number is closer to 400,000 actual macrocells.
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