MetroPCS laying the groundwork in Boston

MetroPCS service in the Boston area until the first quarter of 2009. But that doesn’t mean they’re not hard at work on it. They’re working with NextG to lay the groundwork, according to Wicked Local Cambridge. This will include service in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, and other surrounding towns. It will be part of the company’s Northeast expansion, which has started in Philadelphia, and will further expand to New York City in 2009.

NextG plans to install equipment at 24 sites in Cambridge and should be completed by late September, Delsman said. The city had NextG install some equipment four months ago, before granting final approval, so residents could see the final product and have time to voice any concerns, he said. The system includes underground fiber-optic cables and overhead antennas attached to existing utility poles belonging to NSTAR and Verizon on more than 30 Cambridge streets, according to plans filed with the city’s License Commission. The city’s Pole and Conduit Commission has approved 18 NextG license petitions since March and authorized the company to “install manholes, lay, maintain and use conduits and make service connections, and extend wires therein for the transmission of telecommunications data over fiber-optic cable,” according to license commission records.

It’s no wonder why so few companies set up wireless networks. They’re a lot of work, and even more money. The spectrum itself cost Metro $313 million. I wonder how much more on top of that building the network will cost.]]>