ExteNet Systems is getting a piece of the business that involves decommissioning old Sprint gear that still exists in T-Mobile’s network. But that’s just a slice of a deal announced Tuesday.
In a deal that ExteNet is calling unprecedented, ExteNet announced an expanded partnership with T-Mobile where the mobile operator is the primary carrier for ExteNet’s contracted venues.
Every new venue contract couples ExteNet’s infrastructure deployment with T-Mobile as the first committed carrier. The agreement includes the deployment of infrastructure in large sports, entertainment, hospitality and transportation venues.
The expanded agreement between the two really took effect in October when T-Mobile became the first carrier to join the new wireless network that ExteNet is deploying at each MBM Resorts property nationwide. In September, ExteNet announced a partnership with MGM Resorts International to bring distributed wireless networks to 25 MGM properties.
ExteNet is a privately held owner of LTE/5G wireless and fiber neutral-host communications infrastructure whose competitors include Boingo Wireless. Naturally, this deal with T-Mobile is a big one, but they're not disclosing the revenue size of the contract.
“We’re looking to provide a superior end user experience and competitive advantage for T-Mobile, and I think sitting down with them and really understanding what they wanted and how we can meet their needs, ultimately resulted in this agreement,” ExteNet Systems CEO Rich Coyle told Fierce.
There are other venues where it’s delivering similar experiences to the MGM deployment, such as at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, and for the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
What determines which spectrum will be used to deploy a 5G or other wireless system? Licensed millimeter wave spectrum is a popular option in sports arenas, but there are other alternatives, such as licensed or unlicensed CBRS 3.5 GHz spectrum.
ExteNet, as a neutral host system provider, is agnostic and will work with whatever the venue owners and carriers prefer, Coyle said.
“Each venue is unique, and we look to work with them to deliver whatever they would like us to deliver,” he said.
Some of these deployments will include distributed antenna systems (DAS), as well as distributed RAN (D-RAN), CBRS, a private LTE network or enhancements to Wi-Fi.
In the agreement with T-Mobile, ExteNet said it will rationalize T-Mobile’s small cell framework and upgrade existing infrastructure, making everything streamlined, more efficient and faster. This could mean taking out old Sprint gear or keeping it. All of this will be done without any service disruptions, according to ExteNet.
It’s all part of ExteNet’s grand plan to “reimagine and reinvent” how indoor and outdoor digital infrastructure is developed and deployed, Coyle said. “We’re excited about this, but this is only the beginning for us,” he said.